Cŏch'i-nēal, n.

(Synop., § 130), n. [Sp. cochinilla, Fr. cochenille, It. cocciniglia, dim. of Lat. coccum, Gr. κόκκος, berry, especially the kermes-berry, used to dye scarlet, as the cochineal was formerly supposed to be the grain or seed of a plant, and this word was formerly defined to be the grain of the Ilex glandifera.] A dye-stuff consisting of the dried bodies of insects of the species Coccus cacti, native in Mexico, and found on several species of cactus, especially C. cochinillifer.

☞ At a suitable time, these insects are gathered from the plant, plunged in hot water, and then exposed to the sun to dry them; in this state they have the appearance of small, rough berries or seeds, of a grayish-purple color, and form the cochineal of the shops, which is used for making carmine, and also as a red dye.