0 a blue substance obtained from plants that some people in the past used to paint their bodies with --
The rapid growth of the island, in this phase, was the result of the cultivation of wheat, and the growth in the woad industry.
The special manufacture was blue cloth, dyed, no doubt, with woad, licence to grow which was asked in the neighbourhood in the 16th century.
Commercially produced indigo has replaced woad as a dye (although seeds of woad can still be obtained).
Woad and true indigo were used to produce indigo dye used to colour fabrics blue or indigo.
Indigo blue had the same chemical composition as woad, but it was more concentrated and produced a richer and more stable blue.
Woad was replaced by true indigo as trade routes opened up, and both are now largely replaced by synthetic dyes.
Woad was a sort of antiseptic for those who went into battle; it was not normal dress.
We are embarking on providing a constitution for an island which was civilised when our ancestors were walking about wearing woad.
