Obs. [a. F. arcanne ‘rudle, red chaulke, red oaker,’ Cotgr., prob. ad. *arcanna, variant of It. alcanna or Sp. alcana: see ALCANNA, ALKANET.] A kind of red chalk used by carpenters for marking timber.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp.
1880. Syd. Soc. Lex., Arcanne, a synonym of red ochre.
