cochineal

[ koch-uh-neel, koh-chuh-, koch-uh-neel, koh-chuh- ]

noun
  1. a red dye prepared from the dried bodies of the females of the cochineal insect, Dactylopius coccus, which lives on cactuses of Mexico, Central America, and other warm regions.

Origin of cochineal

1
1575–85; <Middle French cochinille<Spanish cochinilla the insect; of obscure origin; perhaps to be identified with Spanish cochinilla sow bug (assuming a likeness between it and the female cochineal insect), diminutive of cochina sow, but chronology is doubtful

Words Nearby cochineal

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How to use cochineal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cochineal

cochineal

/ (ˌkɒtʃɪˈniːl, ˈkɒtʃɪˌniːl) /


noun
  1. Also called: cochineal insect a Mexican homopterous insect, Dactylopius coccus, that feeds on cacti

  2. a crimson substance obtained from the crushed bodies of these insects, used for colouring food and for dyeing

    • the colour of this dye

    • (as adjective): cochineal shoes

Origin of cochineal

1
C16: from Old Spanish cochinilla, from Latin coccineus scarlet-coloured, from coccum cochineal kermes, from Greek kokkos kermes berry

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