Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
crottal

crottal

9.9
A lichen used to make reddish brown or purple dye
  • noun
  • Archaic
: crotal
  • Traditional Scottish weavers often used crottal to create natural, lasting dyes for wool.

Examples

  • The hillside was covered in crottal, which the villagers collected for dyeing cloth.

  • Scientists identified the purple pigment in the sample as coming from crottal.

  • The artist used crottal to create vibrant colors.

  • Many crottals can be found in the forest.

  • Traditional Scottish weavers often used crottal to create natural, lasting dyes for wool.

  • The hillside was covered in crottal, which the villagers collected for dyeing cloth.

  • Scientists identified the purple pigment in the sample as coming from crottal.

Synonyms

crotal
vscrottal
  • Archaic
9.9

A small growth on rocks that people use to make reddish brown or purple dye

refers to one particular lichen of that genus rather than the group
crottle
vscrottal
  • Archaic
9.9

A lichen that grows on rocks and gives reddish-brown dye for cloth

means a single lichen of that genus rather than several species

Surface Forms

crottal singular
crottals plural

Etymology

Crottal comes from old Scottish names for a small lichen that people collected to make reddish-brown or purple dyes, so the word is tied to the plant and its use in dyeing cloth — imagine villagers picking it to colour their wool.