cochineal
[ koch-uh-neel, koh-chuh-, koch-uh-neel, koh-chuh- ]
/ ˌkɒtʃ əˈnil, ˌkoʊ tʃə-, ˈkɒtʃ əˌnil, ˈkoʊ tʃə- /
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noun
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.
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Origin of cochineal
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
cochairperson, coch. amp., co-channel, cochin, Cochin-China, cochineal, cochineal cactus, cochineal insect, Cochise, cochlea, cochlear aqueduct
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for cochineal
British Dictionary definitions for cochineal
cochineal
/ (ˌkɒtʃɪˈniːl, ˈkɒtʃɪˌniːl) /
noun
Also called: cochineal insect a Mexican homopterous insect, Dactylopius coccus, that feeds on cacti
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
Word Origin for cochineal
C16: from Old Spanish cochinilla, from Latin coccineus scarlet-coloured, from coccum cochineal kermes, from Greek kokkos kermes berry
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for cochineal
cochineal
[ kŏch′ə-nēl′, kŏch′ə-nēl′, kō′chə-nēl′, kō′chə-nēl′ ]
n.
A red dye made of dried, pulverized female cochineal insects and used as a biological stain and as an indicator in acid-base titrations.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.