KERMES

kermes. Kermes, n. a small animal found on a species of small oak in Asia and Europe, used in dying red

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Ker″mes (?), n. [[Ar. & Per. girmiz. See Crimson, and cf. Alkermes.]] 1. 1. (Zoöl.) 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. 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.