Vermilion

(ver-mil'yun), n. [Fr. vermillon, Pr. vermelho, vermeillo, vermillo, It. vermiglione, Pg. vermelhão, Sp. bermellon, L. Lat. vermilium. See VERMIL, and cf. CRIMSON.]

1Sense 1. A substance consisting of sulphuret or sulphide of mercury, especially when in the form of a fine powder. It is of a bright, beautiful red color, and is much used as a pigment, and to color wafers, sealing-wax, and the like. It is sometimes found native, of a red or brown color, and is then called cinnabar.

2Sense 2. The cochineal. See COCHINEAL.

3Sense 3. A beautiful red color; a lively and brilliant red; as, cheeks of vermilion.

☞ 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 vermiculata. 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. Hunt.

(ver-mĭl'yun), v. t. To color with vermilion, or as if with vermilion; to dye red; to cover with a delicate red.