Adjacent Words

Kermes definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

KERM'ES, n. In zoology, an insect produced in the excrescences of a species of small oak, or the body of an insect transformed into a grain, berry, or husk. This body is full of reddish juice, which
is used in dyeing red. Hence the word crimson.

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: French kermès, from Arabic qirmiz Date: 1603 the dried bodies of the females of various scale insects (genus Kermes) that are found on a Mediterranean oak (Quercus coccifera) and constitute a red dyestuff; also the dye

Oxford Reference Dictionary

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 kermès f. Arab. & Pers. kirmiz: rel. to CRIMSON

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Kermes Ker"mes, n. [Ar. & Per. girmiz. See Crimson, and cf. Alkermes.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) The dried bodies of the females of a scale insect (Coccus ilicis), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of oak near the Mediterranean. 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 (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's 1913 Dictionary

Kermes Ker"mes, n. (Zo["o]l.) [NL.] A genus of scale insects including many species that feed on oaks. The adult female resembles a small gall.