cochineal

[ koch-uh-neel, koh-chuh-, koch-uh-neel, koh-chuh- ]

noun

1. a red dye prepared from the dried bodies of the females of the cochineal insect, Dactylopius coccus, which lives on cactuses of Mexico, Central America, and other warm regions.

cochineal

/ ˌkɒtʃɪˈniːl; ˈkɒtʃɪˌniːl /

noun

1. Also calledcochineal insect a Mexican homopterous insect, Dactylopius coccus, that feeds on cacti
2. a crimson substance obtained from the crushed bodies of these insects, used for colouring food and for dyeing
3. 1. the colour of this dye
   2. ( as adjective )

      cochineal shoes

Word History and Origins

Origin of cochineal¹

1575–85; < Middle French cochinille < Spanish cochinilla the insect; of obscure origin; perhaps to be identified with Spanish cochinilla sow bug (assuming a likeness between it and the female cochineal insect), diminutive of cochina sow, but chronology is doubtful

Word History and Origins

Origin of cochineal¹

C16: from Old Spanish cochinilla, from Latin coccineus scarlet-coloured, from coccum cochineal kermes, from Greek kokkos kermes berry

Example Sentences

That vibrant red, a hue prized in Zapotec culture for 2,000 years, is derived from the cochineal, a tiny insect that thrives on nopal cactus.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of Mexico’s most picturesque and imposing colonial cities, like Oaxaca, were essentially built on the wealth derived from cochineal dye, also called carmine, and known as “grana cochinilla” in Spanish.

From Seattle Times

During this Era of Exploration, consumers also got their pink cheeks and lips from other pigments like carmine, derived from cochineal insects harvested in Central and South America under similar conditions.

From National Geographic

Colorful covers, for example, relied on a variety of sources — such as minerals found in soil and beetles in Mexico, which were used to produce crimson cochineal.

From Washington Post

Aside from artificial intelligence and the pandemic, Pantone said, another major influence in its choice was the red hue of cochineal, a natural scarlet dye made by pulverizing certain scaled insects.

From Washington Post