Definitions for: Kermes

Webster (1913) Definition: Ker"mes, n. [Ar. & Per. girmiz. See Crimson, and cf.
Alkermes.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) The dried bodies of the females of a scale
insect (Coccus ilicis), allied to the cochineal insect,
and found on several species of oak near the
Mediterranean. They are round, about the size of a pea,
contain coloring matter analogous to carmine, and are used
in dyeing. They were anciently thought to be of a
vegetable nature, and were used in medicine. [Written also
chermes.]

2. (Bot.) A small European evergreen oak ({Quercus
coccifera}) on which the kermes insect (Coccus ilicis)
feeds. --J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).

Kermes mineral.
(a) (Old Chem.) An artificial amorphous trisulphide of
antimony; -- so called on account of its red color.
(b) (Med. Chem.) A compound of the trioxide and
trisulphide of antimony, used in medicine. This
substance occurs in nature as the mineral kermesite.

Ker"mes, n. (Zo["o]l.) [NL.]
A genus of scale insects including many species that feed on
oaks. The adult female resembles a small gall.

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