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Cochineal - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Cochineal : (noun)
1: a red dyestuff consisting of dried bodies of female
cochineal insects
2: Mexican red scale insect that feeds on cacti; the source of
a red dye [syn: cochineal insect, Dactylopius coccus]
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Cochineal : \Coch"i*neal\ (?; 277), [Sp. cochinilla, dim. from L.
coccineus, coccinus, scarlet, fr. coccum the kermes berry, G.
? berry, especially the kermes insect, used to dye scarlet,
as the cohineal was formerly supposed to be the grain or seed
of a plant, and this word was formerly defined to be the
grain of the Quercus coccifera; but cf. also Sp. cochinilla
wood louse, dim. of cochina sow, akin to F. cochon pig.]
A dyestuff consisting of the dried bodies of females of the
Coccus cacti, an insect native in Mexico, Central America,
etc., and found on several species of cactus, esp. Opuntia
cochinellifera.
Note: These insects are gathered from the plant, killed by
the application of heat, and exposed to the sun to dry.
When dried they resemble small, rough berries or seeds,
of a brown or purple color, and form the cochineal of
the shops, which is used for making carmine, and also
as a red dye.
Note: Cochineal contains as its essential coloring matter
carminic acid, a purple red amorphous substance which
yields carmine red.
Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)
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