Dyer's Woad (Noun)
Meaning
European biennial formerly grown for the blue coloring matter yielded by its leaves.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The medieval textile industry relied heavily on the cultivation of dyer's woad for the production of blue dyes for clothing and other fabrics.
- Dyer's woad was used to color wool, silk, and other textiles throughout ancient Europe and into the Renaissance period.
- Historical records indicate that the production of blue dye from the leaves of the dyer's woad plant was a time-consuming process requiring large quantities of the plant.
- Woad millers would harvest the leaves of the dyer's woad plant to create a blue paste or dye for coloring various materials.
- The artistic uses of the dye derived from the leaves of the dyer's woad were explored by various textile artists throughout history.