What is "cudbear"

Cudbear \Cud"bear`\ (k?d"b?r`), n. [Also cudbeard, corrupted fr. the name of Dr. Cuthbert Gordon, a Scotchman, who first brought it into notice.]

1. A powder of a violet red color, difficult to moisten with water, used for making violet or purple dye. It is prepared from certain species of lichen, especially Lecanora tartarea.
   --Ure.

2. (Bot.) A lichen ( Lecanora tartarea), from which the powder is obtained.

n. 1 A violet-red powder, difficult to moisten with water, prepared from certain lichens, especially ''Lecanora tartarea'', and used for making violet or purple dye. 2 (context botany English) A lichen ((taxlink Lecanora tartarea species noshow=1)), from which the powder is obtained.

n. a purplish dye obtained from orchil lichens [syn: orchil, archil]