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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of vermeil

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

Example Sentences

Place settings included more than 250 pieces of vermeil from the White House collection, alongside hand-painted menus.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

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

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 lots, which decorated the Paris mansion, included a 16th-century vermeil elephant by Christoph II Ritter.

From New York Times • Aug. 23, 2012

The vermeil of her lip flushed and paled alternate, from the pink of the wild rose-leaf to the red of its autumnal berry.

From The Black Douglas by Richards, Frank