Kermes

[Sarah]

The dried bodies of the females of a scale insect (Coccusilicis), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several speciesof oak near the Mediterranean. They are round, about the size of apea, contain coloring matter analogous to carmine, and are used indyeing. They were anciently thought to be of a vegetable nature, andwere used in medicine. [Written also chermes.]