Alcanet
/ˈæl.kə.nɛt/noun
A plant, especially dyer’s alkanet, whose roots yield a red or purple dye.
Did you know?Alcanet is historically related to henna through Arabic al-ḥinnāʾ, although the plants are botanically different; alkanet root was valued for its red coloring matter.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Arabic
Arabic
al-ḥinnāʾ
“Henna, the fragrant dye plant”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
al-ḥinnā
“The henna plant; Arabic al- means “the””
Medieval Spanish
Spanish
alcana / alcaneta
“Henna or a related dye plant; the diminutive ending -eta means “little””
Late Middle English
English
alcanet
“A plant used for producing a red dye”
16th–17th Century
English
alkanet
“Dyer’s alkanet, especially Alkanna tinctoria”
Modern English
English
alcanet
“A variant spelling of alkanet, the red-dye plant”