Originally: the fruit (a hairy purplish drupe) of the shrubby tree Rhus coriaria (see sense 2a), used as a flavouring in cooking and (formerly) as…

a black dye prepared from the ground leaves and twigs of sumac.

the soot of burnt wood, formerly recognized in the British Pharmacopœia as fuligo ligni, and used in dyeing.

In the names of various colours used in dyeing textiles (cf. sense 1), as Manchester black, Manchester brown, Manchester yellow.

Dyeing. A base obtained from aniline black, giving a bluish black shade in printing; also the colour itself.

an extract from chestnut wood, used in dyeing silk black.

Any of various dark blue or blackish aniline compounds used in dyes, inks, and leather polishes, and as biological stains.