Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Kermes"
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.
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