KERMES
Etymology
Noun
kermes (plural kermes)
(countable) Any of several insects of the genus Kermes.
(uncountable) A crimson dye made from the crushed bodies of these insects.
Anagrams
• Remkes
Source: Wiktionary
Ker"mes, n. Etym: [Ar. & Per. girmiz. See Crimson, and cf. Alkermes.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Definition: 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.)
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition