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cochineal

noun
/ˌkɒt͡ʃɪˈniːl/UK/ˌkɑt͡ʃɪˈni(ə)l/US

Etymology

The noun is borrowed from Middle French cochenille (modern French cochenille), from Italian cocciniglia or Spanish cochinilla; further etymology uncertain, possibly from Latin coccineus, coccinus (“scarlet-dyed; scarlet in colour”) (whence Italian coccineo (“scarlet in colour”)) + Italian -iglia (suffix forming collective nouns), Spanish -illa (“diminutive suffix”). Coccinus is derived from Ancient Greek κόκκῐνος (kókkĭnos, “scarlet; (figurative) blushing”, adjective), from κόκκος (kókkos, “kermes oak (Quercus coccifera); insect of the genus Kermes living on the oak; scarlet dye made from crushed kermes insects”) (possibly from Pre-Greek) + -ῐνος (-ĭnos, suffix forming adjectives). According to the Oxford English Dictionary, cochineal is not derived from Spanish cochinilla (“pill bug, especially the common pill bug (Armadillidium vulgare)”), a diminutive of cochina (“female pig, sow”) (from the animal’s shape), which coincidentally has the same spelling as cochinilla (“cochineal”). The adjective is derived from the noun.

  1. derived from κόκκῐνος — “scarlet; (figurative) blushing”
  2. derived from coccineus
  3. derived from cochinilla
  4. derived from cocciniglia
  5. borrowed from cochenille

Definitions

  1. A scale insect of the species Dactylopius coccus, native to the tropical and subtropical…

    A scale insect of the species Dactylopius coccus, native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, which lives on prickly pear cacti (genus Opuntia).

    • The Cochineel is an Inſect, bred in a ſort of Fruit much like the Prickle Pear. […] The Silveſter gives a colour almoſt as fair as the Cochineel; and ſo like it as to be often miſtaken for it, but it is not near ſo valuable.

  2. A vivid red dye made from the dried bodies of cochineal insects.

    • Cociniglia, a kinde of rich flie or graine comming out of India to dye ſcarlet vvith, called Cutchenele.
    • There liues the Sea-oake, in a little ſhel; / There grovves vntill'd the ruddy Cochenel: […]

  3. The vivid red colour of this dye.

    • And I to make all knovv, I am not ſhallovv / VVill have my points [i.e., lace] of Cucchineale and yellovv.
  4. ›+ 1 more definition

    1. Possessing a vivid red colour, as or as if produced from dyeing with cochineal dye (noun…

      Possessing a vivid red colour, as or as if produced from dyeing with cochineal dye (noun sense 2).

      • Batavus [a tulip variety], of somewhat the same shade, was slightly taller, and perhaps with a little more cochineal color.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for cochineal. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA