vermilion
.
Searchable Lemmata: vermiloune, vermilion (MdE).
Alternate Forms: vermailloun, vermeillon, vermeilloun, vermelon, vermeloun, vermelun, vermilin, vermilloun, vermilon, vermilone, vermiloun, vermilun, vermyloun, vermylyoun.
Definitions and Defining Citations:
1(n.)
Dye;
a bright red colour. The word is a derivative of vermeil (q.v.), a term referring to dyes made from kermes (q.v.); vermilion was used of dyes of similar hue made from powdered cinnabar (mercury sulfide) or 'red lead', known in Latin as minium (q.v.). The pigment was used for a variety of purposes: the production of red sealing wax, red inks, cosmetics, paints. Partly due to its high cost, it was not in regular use to make textile dyes; however, the term was occasionally used of bright red fabrics and clothing of a colour similar to vermilion.(ante 1300 still in current use)
2. He schal comaunde ... that he offre for hymsilf ... a tree of cedre, and vermylyoun [Gloss.: vermyloun, that is, a reed threed; WB(1): flawm reed silk; vr. vermycle], and isope.
Biblical/Hagiographic.
[MED WBible(2) ((Roy 1.C.8) Lev.14.4) circa 1395]
Sex: Male, Female Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
Etymological Evidence:
Definite, OF/AF vermeillon etc. < vermeil (q.v.) with object suffix -on. Borrowed thence both into Latin and Middle English. Forms without -l- are influenced by ML vermeum, a non-diminutive equivalent to vermiculum (the source of vermeil).
WF: Borrowed into the British Isles
Etym Cog: vermeilloun, vermiculus, vermiculatus.
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