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

See Examples For:

vermeil

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

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026

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

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

Now you can get it in sterling silver and vermeil for $1,000.

From New York Times ● Nov. 8, 2017

And thou shalt see her standing straight and pale, High pedestalled on some rook-haunted tower: She has two earrings, silver and vermeil, And eyes like stars that shine in sunset hour.

From Forty-Two Poems by James Elroy Flecker