Definition of Kermes

1. n. 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.

2. n. A genus of scale insects including many species that feed on oaks. The adult female resembles a small gall.

Definition of Kermes

1. Noun. any of several insects of the genus ''Kermes'' ¹

2. Noun. Crimson dye made from the crushed bodies of these insects ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Kermes

1. a red dye [n KERMES]

Medical Definition of Kermes

1. 1. 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 colouring matter analogous to carmine, and are used in dyeing. They were anciently thought to be of a vegetable nature, and were used in medicine. Alternative forms: chermes. 2. A small European evergreen oak (Quercus coccifera) on which the kermes insect (Coccus ilicis) feeds. Kermes mineral. A compound of the trioxide and trisulphide of antimony, used in medicine. This substance occurs in nature as the mineral kermesite. Origin: Ar. & Per. Girmiz. See Crimson, and cf. Alkermes. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Kermes

kerfluffle
kerfluffles
kerfs
kerfuffle
kerfuffles
kerion
keriorrhea
keris
kerite
kerites
kerl
kerlix
kerls
kerma
kermas
kermes (current term)
kermes oak
kermesite
kermess
kermesse
kermesses
kermis
kermises
kermode
kermode bears
kermodes
kern
kern-plasma relation theory
kernal
kerne

Literary usage of Kermes

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines by Andrew Ure (1858)
"The kermes falls down in a brown-red powder, as the liquor cools. ... kermes has been known in the East since the days of Moses ¡ it has been employed from ..."

2. Hand-book of Chemistry by Leopold Gmelin, Henry Watts (1850)
"The shorter the time of fusion, and the slower the cooling, the larger is the quantity of crystallized sulphide of antimony mixed with the kermes. 2. ..."

3. Experimental Researches Concerning the Philosophy of Permanent Colours: And by Edward Bancroft (1814)
"AMONG animal adjective colours, the kermes are entitled to our first notice, because they appear to have been used for dyeing at a very early period; and, ..."

4. A Dictionary of Applied Chemistry by Thomas Edward Thorpe (1912)
"Cooke lias suggested the suitability of this reaction for the preparation of pure hydrogen. kermes mineral. Brown-red antimony sulphide. ..."

5. A Dictionary of Chemistry: On the Basis of Mr. Nicholson's, in which the ...by Andrew Ure, William Nicholson by Andrew Ure, William Nicholson (1821)
"On account of their figure, they were a long time taken for the seeds of the tree on which they live; whence they were called grain» of kermes. ..."

6. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1839)
"The conclusions of Dr. T. from his numerous experiments are 1. that the kermes acts with more certainty asan emetic in the dose of from two to three grains ..."

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