Word Study
anil
CIDE DICTIONARY
anil, n. [F. anil, Sp. anīl, or Pg. anil; all fr. Ar. an-nīl, for al-nīl the indigo plant, fr. Skr. nīla dark blue, nīlī indigo, indigo plant. Cf. Lilac.].
A West Indian plant (Indigofera anil ), one of the original sources of indigo; also, the indigo dye. [1913 Webster]
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