Word Study
Orris
CIDE DICTIONARY
Orris, n. [Prob. corrupted from It. ireos iris. See Iris.].
A plant of the genus Iris (Iris Florentina ); a kind of flower-de-luce. Its rootstock has an odor resembling that of violets. [1913 Webster]
Orris, n.
- A sort of gold or silver lace. Johnson. [1913 Webster]
- A peculiar pattern in which gold lace or silver lace is worked; especially, one in which the edges are ornamented with conical figures placed at equal distances, with spots between them. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Orris, n.
1 any plant of the genus Iris, esp. I. florentina.
2 = ORRISROOT.
1 any plant of the genus Iris, esp. I. florentina.
2 = ORRISROOT.
Idiom
orris-powder powdered orrisroot.
Etymology
16th c.: app. an unexpl. alt. of IRIS
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