Kermes \Ker"mes\, n. [Ar. & Per. girmiz. See Crimson, and cf.
Alkermes.]
1. (Zool.) 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. (Zool.) [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]
Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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