Color Names · Entry

Vermilion

Latin via Old French

“bright red, originally from an insect-based dye”

Where it comes from

vermiculus, 'little worm', referring to the kermes insect used in red dye

Fun Fact

Before synthetic pigments, the vivid red dye was extracted from crushed kermes insects, distant relatives of the cochineal insects later used for carmine red.

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