Kermes (dye)

Kermes (dye)

Kermes (or "chermes"), meaning "red insect" in the Persian language, is the dried bodies of the females of a scale insect in the genus "Kermes", primarily "Kermes ilicis" (formerly "Coccus ilicis") or "Kermes vermilio", distantly related to the cochineal insect, and found on species of oak (esp. Kermes oak) near the Mediterranean. The insects are round, smaller than a pea, contain coloring matter analogous to carmine, and are used in dyeing. Red dye was created from the kermes insect, and the word crimson is derived from the word "kermes". In ancient times, these insects were thought to be of a vegetable nature, and were used in medicine.

ee also

Alchermes


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  • Kermes mineral — or Alkermes mineral (Sb2S3) is a compound of antimony oxides and sulphides, more specifically, antimony trioxide and trisulphide. This substance occurs in nature as the mineral Kermesite. It can be made or obtained in the laboratory by the… …   Wikipedia

  • Kermes — is a term that can refer to : * the insect genus Kermes , which includes Kermes ilicis and Kermes vermilio * Kermes (dye) made from it, of a crimson color * Kermes Oak the insect lives on *Kermes the name of a berry, used in the once famous… …   Wikipedia

  • kermes — [kʉr′mēz΄] n. [Fr kermès < Ar & Pers qirmiz: see CARMINE] 1. the dried bodies of the females of certain soft scale insects (genus Kermes), used for making a purple red dye 2. this dye 3. a small, evergreen Mediterranean oak (Quercus coccifera) …   English World 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 ({Kermes ilices} formerly {Coccus ilicis}), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of oak… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Kermes ilices — 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 ({Kermes ilices} formerly {Coccus ilicis}), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Kermes ilices — 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 ({Kermes ilices} formerly {Coccus ilicis}), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Kermes mineral — 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 ({Kermes ilices} formerly {Coccus ilicis}), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dye — dyable, dyeable, adj. dyer, n. /duy/, n., v., dyed, dyeing. n. 1. a coloring material or matter. 2. a liquid containing coloring matter, for imparting a particular hue to cloth, paper, etc. 3. color or hue, esp. as produced by dyeing. 4. of the… …   Universalium

  • Dye — For other uses, see Dye (disambiguation). Yarn drying after being dyed in the early American tradition, at Conner Prairie living history museum. A dye is a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it …   Wikipedia

  • kermes — /kerr meez/, n. 1. a red dye formerly prepared from the dried bodies of the females of a scale insect, Kermes ilices, which lives on small, evergreen oaks of the Mediterranean region. 2. the oak itself, of the genus Quercus coccifera. [1590 1600; …   Universalium

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