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kermes


kermes


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Kermes  \Ker"mes\,  n.  [Ar.  &  Per.  girmiz  See  {Crimson},  and  cf 
  {Alkermes}.] 
  1.  (Zo["o]l.)  The  dried  bodies  of  the  females  of  a  scale 
  insect  ({Coccus  ilicis}),  allied  to  the  cochineal  insect, 
  and  found  on  several  species  of  oak  near  the 
  Mediterranean.  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}.] 
 
  2.  (Bot.)  A  small  European  evergreen  oak  ({Quercus 
  coccifera})  on  which  the  kermes  insect  ({Coccus  ilicis}) 
  feeds.  --J.  Smith  (Dict.  Econ.  Plants). 
 
  {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 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Kermes  \Ker"mes\,  n.  (Zo["o]l.)  [NL.] 
  A  genus  of  scale  insects  including  many  species  that  feed  on 
  oaks.  The  adult  female  resembles  a  small  gall.