kermesEnglishOxford New American Dictionarykermes /ˈkermēz, , ˈkɛrmiz , ˈkerməs, ˈkɛrməs / ▸ noun 1 a red dye obtained from the crushed dried bodies of a female scale insect, used for coloring fabrics and manuscripts. 2 (also oak kermes) the scale insect from which kermes is obtained, forming galls on the kermes oak. Kermes ilicis, family Eriococcidae, suborder Homoptera. – ORIGIN late 16th century (denoting the kermes oak): from French kermès, from Arabic qirmiz; related to crimson.
EnglishOxford New American DictionaryEnglishOxford New American Dictionary
EnglishOxford New American Dictionary