3 definitions found for Anil

Anil AN'IL, n. A shrub from whose leaves and stalks indigo is made; Indigofera, or the indigo plant.

anil n 1: a blue dye obtained from plants or made synthetically [syn: anil, indigo, indigotin] 2: shrub of West Indies and South America that is a source of indigo dye [syn: anil, Indigofera suffruticosa, Indigofera anil]

Anil An"il, n. [F. anil, Sp. an[=i]l, or Pg. anil; all fr. Ar. an-n[=i]l, for al-n[=i]l the indigo plant, fr. Skr. n[=i]la dark blue, n[=i]l[=i] indigo, indigo plant. Cf. Lilac.] (Bot.) A West Indian plant (Indigofera anil), one of the original sources of indigo; also, the indigo dye.