Kermes

POS

Noun

HYPHEN

ker=mes

top

CIDE DICTIONARY

Kermes, n. [Ar. & Per. girmiz. See Crimson, and cf. Alkermes.].

The dried bodies of the females of a scale insect (Kermes ilices formerly Coccus ilicis), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of oak near the Mediterranean; also, the dye obtained from them. They are round, about the size of a pea, contain coloring matter analogous to carmine, and are used in dyeing. They were anciently thought to be of a vegetable nature, and were used in medicine. [1913 Webster]
A small European evergreen oak (Quercus coccifera) on which the kermes insect (Kermes ilices, formerly Coccus ilicis) feeds. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants). [1913 Webster]
A genus of scale insects including many species that feed on oaks. The adult female resembles a small gall. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Kermes mineral. (a) (Old Chem.) An artificial amorphous trisulphide of antimony; -- so called on account of its red color. (b) (Med. Chem.) A compound of the trioxide and trisulphide of antimony, used in medicine. This substance occurs in nature as the mineral kermesite.

top

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Kermes, n.
1 the female of a bug, Kermes ilicis, with a berry-like appearance.
2 (in full kermes oak) an evergreen oak, Quercus coccifera, of S. Europe and N. Africa, on which this insect feeds.
3 a red dye made from the dried bodies of these insects.
4 (in full kermes mineral) a bright red hydrous trisulphide of antimony.

Etymology

F kerm{egrave}s f. Arab. & Pers. kirmiz: rel. to CRIMSON