vermeil

American  

[vur-mil, -meyl, ver-mey] / ˈvɜr mɪl, -meɪl, vərˈmeɪ /

noun

1. vermilion red.

2. metal, as silver or bronze, that has been gilded.

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adjective

1. of the color vermilion.

vermeil British  

/ ˈvɜːmeɪl /

noun

1. gilded silver, bronze, or other metal, used esp in the 19th century

2. 1. vermilion

   2. ( as adjective )

      vermeil shoes

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Etymology

Origin of vermeil

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French < Late Latin vermiculus kermes (insect and dye), Latin: larva, grub; see vermicule

Example Sentences

The necklace comes in sterling silver and 14-karat gold vermeil, with two chain lengths and six chain styles.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2023

The jewelry brand uses recycled metals such as 18-karat gold vermeil, 18-karat gold plating and sterling silver for a new drop, dubbed Molten Pearl, that’s both trendy and timeless.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2022

She eventually expanded into jewelry, offering oval filigree lockets, enamel vermeil zodiac charms and stackable gold bands that riff on 15th-century poesy rings.

From New York Times • Mar. 25, 2022

Well worth a grin: silly sterling silver and gold vermeil twisty straws from Tiffany ’s , a charmingly extravagant surprise.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2018

The violet fields and the vermeil gardens were blotted out, and in the shrieking of the shells the birds could not have been heard to sing even were they there.

From The Long Roll by Johnston, Mary