vermilion

views updated May 14 2018

ver·mil·ion / vərˈmilyən/ (also ver·mil·lion) • n. a brilliant red pigment made from mercury sulfide (cinnabar). ∎  a brilliant red color: a lateral stripe of vermilion | [as adj.] vermilion streaks of sunset.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

vermilion

views updated May 11 2018

vermilion cinnabar or red mercuric sulphide XIII; colour of this, bright red XIV. ME. vermelyon — OF. vermeillon, f. vermeil VERMEIL.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

vermilion

views updated May 29 2018

vermilion a brilliant red pigment made from mercury sulphide (cinnabar). Recorded from Middle English, the word comes via Old French and ultimately from Latin vermiculus, diminutive of vermis ‘worm’.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

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