Word Study
cochineal
CIDE DICTIONARY
cochineal, [Sp. cochinilla, dim. from L. coccineus, coccinus, scarlet, fr. coccum the kermes berry, G. ko`kkos berry, especially the kermes insect, used to dye scarlet, as the cochineal was formerly supposed to be the grain or seed of a plant, and this word was formerly defined to be the grain of the Quercus coccifera ; but cf. also Sp. cochinilla wood louse, dim. of cochina sow, akin to F. cochon pig.].
A dyestuff consisting of the dried bodies of females of the Coccus cacti , an insect native in Mexico, Central America, etc., and found on several species of cactus, esp. Opuntia cochinellifera . [1913 Webster]
" These insects are gathered from the plant, killed by the application of heat, and exposed to the sun to dry. When dried they resemble small, rough berries or seeds, of a brown or purple color, and form the cochineal of the shops, which is used for making carmine, and also as a red dye." [1913 Webster]
" Cochineal contains as its essential coloring matter carminic acid, a purple red amorphous substance which yields carmine red." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
cochineal, n.
1 a scarlet dye used esp. for colouring food.
2 the dried bodies of the female of the Mexican insect, Dactylopius coccus, yielding this.
1 a scarlet dye used esp. for colouring food.
2 the dried bodies of the female of the Mexican insect, Dactylopius coccus, yielding this.
Etymology
F cochenille or Sp. cochinilla f. L coccinus scarlet f. Gk kokkos berry
ROGET THESAURUS
cochineal
Redness
N redness, red, scarlet, vermilion, carmine, crimson, pink, lake, maroon, carnation, couleur de rose, rose du Barry, magenta, damask, purple, flesh color, flesh tint, color, fresh color, high color, warmth, gules, ruby, carbuncle, rose, rust, iron mold, cinnabar, cochineal, fuchsine, ruddle, madder, Indian red, light red, Venetian red, red ink, annotto, annatto, realgar, minium, red lead, redness, rubescence, rubicundity, rubification, erubescence, blush, red, reddish, rufous, ruddy, florid, incarnadine, sanguine, rosy, roseate, blowzy, blowed, burnt, rubicund, rubiform, lurid, stammell blood red, russet buff, murrey, carroty, sorrel, lateritious, rubineous, rubricate, rubricose, rufulous, rose-colored, ruby-colored, cherry-colored, claret-colored, flame- colored, flesh-colored, peach-colored, salmon-colored, brick-colored, brick-colored, dust-colored, blushing, erubescent, reddened, red as fire, red as blood, red as scarlet, red as a turkey cock, red as a lobster, warm, hot, foxy.For further exploring for "cochineal" in Webster Dictionary Online
