vermeil
.
Searchable Lemmata: vermiculus (L), vermeil (AF), vermaile (ME), vermicle (ME), vermeil (MdE), vermicle (MdE).
Alternate Forms: vemiculatus, vermail, vermaile, vermaille, vermailus, vermal, vermeile, vermeille, vermeillo, vermel, vermelio, vermes, vermiculi, vermiculus, vermicylum, vermil, vermilio, vermilo, vermycle.
Definitions and Defining Citations:
1a(n.)
Dye;
originally the Latin word vermiculus which meant 'little worm' (used of a variety of creatures), applied specifically to the genus Kermes (q.v.) and especially to the red dyes made from them. Also as a colour name, meaning bright red.(ante 700 - ante 1500)
1. Tinctura vocata quia tinguitur et in aliam fucata speciem nitoris gratia coloratur. κοκκονGraeci, nos rubrum seu vermiculum dicimus; est enim vermiculus ex silvestribus frondibus.
[DOE ISID. Etym. (19,28,1)]
Sex: Male, Female Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
1b(adj.)
Dye;
as an adjective. Rarely used of cloth (particularly in English); more commonly found applied to red wine, apples, human lips and cheeks, etc.(ante 1200 - post 1900)
Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
2(n.)
Textile;
cloth or clothing dyed in such a red colour. In Middle English the term vermicle, which is a reborrowing from Latin vermiculus, found in the various versions of the Wycliffite Bible, also in the phrase 'vermicle twinned' (i.e, twice-dyed with vermeil), a calque of the Biblical Latin 'vermiculo bis tincto'.(ante 1350 - ante 1400)
Sex: Male, Female Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
Etymological Evidence:
Definite, Classical Latin vemiculus 'little worm', diminutive of vermis, applied to creatures of the genus Kermes. This term was known in Anglo-Saxon England (largely via Isidore), but not borrowed into Old English. The Latin word continued into Old French/Anglo-French as vermeil, vermail and was borrowed from French into Middle English, and also re-adopted as Latin 'vermeilus' etc. from French. Various other extended senses of word are attested in the Modern English period. In Middle English there also existed the word vermiculous (< Latin vermiculosus), but this was only used of worms etc. and not of dyes, clothing. See also vermilion.
WF: Borrowed into the British Isles
Etym Cog: vermicle, vermiloun.
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