Found 1 items, similar to chermes.
English → English (gcide)
Definition: chermes
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 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.]
[1913 Webster]
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).
[1913 Webster]
3. (Zo["o]l.) [NL.] 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.
[1913 Webster]