vermilion

¹

or ver·mil·lion

[ ver-mil-yuhn ]

noun

1. a brilliant scarlet red.
2. a bright-red, water-insoluble pigment consisting of mercuric sulfide, once obtained from cinnabar, now usually produced by the reaction of mercury and sulfur.

adjective

1. of the color vermilion.

verb (used with object)

1. to color with or as if with vermilion.

Vermilion

²

[ ver-mil-yuhn ]

noun

1. a town in N Ohio.

vermilion

/ vəˈmɪljən /

noun

1. 1. a bright red to reddish-orange colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      a vermilion car

2. mercuric sulphide, esp when used as a bright red pigment; cinnabar

Word History and Origins

Origin of vermilion¹

1250–1300; Middle English vermilioun, vermillon < Anglo-French, Old French verm ( e ) illon, equivalent to vermeil vermeil + -on noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of vermilion¹

C13: from Old French vermeillon, from vermeil

Example Sentences

While competing, his forehead was marked with a vermilion tika, a Hindu symbol of power and purity.

From New York Times

The floodplains also provide habitat for monarch butterflies and birds such as vermilion flycatchers, yellow warblers and red-winged blackbirds.

From Los Angeles Times

Clark off North Carolina, with vermilion snapper schooling nearby.

From Salon

The blood-red hue of a small, 1974 silkscreen version in vermilion, installed with four drawings in a side gallery, evokes engorgement and violence.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of Jade’s work spoke to her personal interests in nature and birds, like an entry she wrote on the vermilion flycatcher, which got about 21,000 page views in the past 12 months.

From New York Times

Related Words

• cardinal
• coral
• crimson
• flaming
• glowing
• maroon
• rose
• wine