orris

UK: /ˈɒrɪs/ US: (ôr′is, or′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

or•ris¹  (ôr′is, or′-), n. 

1. Plant Biology an iris, Iris germanica florentina, having a fragrant rootstock.

Also, or′rice. 

• unexplained alteration of iris 1535–45

or•ris²  (ôr′is, or′-), n. 

1. Clothing a lace or braid made of gold or silver, much used in the 18th century.
2. Clothing a galloon used in upholstering.

• perh. alteration (by influence of arras tapestry) of earlier orfrays orphrey 1695–1705

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

orris, orrice / ˈɒrɪs/ noun

1. any of various irises, esp Iris florentina, that have fragrant rhizomes
2. Also called: orrisroot the rhizome of such a plant, prepared and used as perfume

Etymology: 16th Century: variant of iris

orris / ˈɒrɪs/ noun

1. a kind of lace made of gold or silver, used esp in the 18th century

Etymology: from Old French orfreis, from Latin auriphrygium Phrygian gold