cochineal

American  

[koch-uh-neel, koh-chuh-, koch-uh-neel, koh-chuh-] / ˌkɒtʃ əˈnil, ˌkoʊ tʃə-, ˈkɒtʃ əˌnil, ˈkoʊ tʃə- /

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.

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cochineal British  

/ ˌkɒtʃɪˈniːl, ˈkɒtʃɪˌniːl /

noun

1. Also called: cochineal 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

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Etymology

Origin of cochineal

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