cochineal Hear it!

cochineal definition

cochi·neal (käc̸h′ə nēl′, käc̸h′ə nēl′)

noun

a red dye made from the dried bodies of female cochineal insects: used, esp. formerly, in coloring foods, cosmetics, etc.

Etymology: Fr cochenille, prob. < L coccinus, scarlet-colored < coccum, a berry, scarlet: see coccus

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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