Cochineal Definition
kŏchə-nēl, kŏchə-nēl, kōchə-, kōchə-
noun
A red dye made from the dried bodies of female cochineal insects: used, esp. formerly, in coloring foods, cosmetics, etc.
Webster's New World
A vivid red.
American Heritage
A species of insect (Dactylopius coccus).
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
- Dactylopius coccus
- cochineal insect
Other Word Forms of Cochineal
Noun
Singular:
cochineal
Plural:
cochinealsOrigin of Cochineal
French cochenille from Spanish cochinilla cochineal insect probably from Vulgar Latin coccinella from feminine diminutive of Latin coccinus scarlet from Greek kokkinos from kokkos kermes berry (from its use in making scarlet dye)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From French cochenille, from Ancient Greek κόκκινος (kokkinos, “red tint”), from κόκκος, from Latin coccus (“berry or grain”) (term applied to coccus quercus, a scale insect used in the production of red dye)
From Wiktionary
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