Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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.
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.