Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Kermes
1.
(Zool.)
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. [Written also
chermes
.] 2.
(Bot.)
A small European evergreen oak (
Quercus coccifera
) on which the kermes insect (Kermes ilices
, formerly Coccus ilicis
) feeds. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).
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
.Webster 1828 Edition
Kermes
KERM'ES
,Noun.
is used in dyeing red. Hence the word crimson.
Definition 2024
Kermes
Kermes
Translingual
Kermes echinatus, gravid females
Proper noun
Kermes m
- A taxonomic genus within the family Kermesidae – the kermes insects, source of a red dye.
Hyponyms
- (genus): Kermes bacciformis, Kermes corticalis, Kermes gibbosus, Kermes ilicis, Kermes roboris, Kermes vermilio (species)
See also
kermes
kermes
English
Alternative forms
- chermes, chermez, kermez
Noun
kermes
- any of several insects of the genus Kermes
- (uncountable) Crimson dye made from the crushed bodies of these insects
Translations
Derived terms
- kermes mineral
- kermes oak
