Definition of Kermes:

part of speech: noun

One of the ores of antimony- so called from its deep cherry- red colour.

part of speech: noun

A roundish body of the bigness of a pea, containing a multitude of little distinct granules, which, when crushed, yield a scarlet juice- now known to be the dried bodies of the females of certain insects.

Usage examples:

• 25. This Prescription is only the Preparation of Kermes mineral, otherwise called the Chartreusian Powder. Samuel Auguste David Tissot in "Advice to the people in general, with regard to their health".

• His mother could not afford to buy the turmeric, indigo, kermes and other dyestuffs brought from far countries or grown in gardens. Louise Lamprey in "In the Days of the Guild".

• Mount Ilamuni with Jaur- dagh, the Kharusa with Shorsh- dagh, and the Tala with the Kermes dagh; but it is difficult to believe that, if the king took this route, he would not mention the town of Marqasi- Marash, which lay at the very foot of the Jaur- dagh, and would have stopped his passage. G. Maspero in "History Of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 6 (of 12)".

• Only at the third signal did Kermes reflect that it was growing late, and begin to climb down from the plum tree. Mór Jókai in "Pretty Michal".