Hypertext Webster Gateway: "vermilion"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Vermilion \Ver*mil"ion\, n. [F. vermillon. See {Vermeil}.]
1. (Chem.) A bright red pigment consisting of mercuric
sulphide, obtained either from the mineral cinnabar or
artificially. It has a fine red color, and is much used in
coloring sealing wax, in printing, etc.
Note: The kermes insect has long been used for dyeing red or
scarlet. It was formerly known as the worm dye,
vermiculus, or vermiculum, and the cloth was called
vermiculatia. Hence came the French vermeil for any red
dye, and hence the modern name vermilion, although the
substance it denotes is very different from the kermes,
being a compound of mercury and sulphur. --R. Hunt.
2. Hence, a red color like the pigment; a lively and
brilliant red; as, cheeks of vermilion.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Vermilion \Ver*mil"ion\, v. t.
To color with vermilion, or as if with vermilion; to dye red;
to cover with a delicate red.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
vermilion
adj : of a vivid red to reddish-orange color [syn: {vermillion}, {cinnabar},
{Chinese-red}]
n : a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an
orange tinge [syn: {scarlet}, {orange red}]
v : color vermilion
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