[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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
see also:
crimson alkermes kermes ilices coccus ilicis chermes quercus coccifera 
kermes mineral kermesite 

Kermes >> K Words
Kermes, definition of term: Kermes
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