cochineal
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cochineal
- /ˌkɒt͡ʃɪˈniːl/ UK
- /ˌkɑt͡ʃɪˈni(ə)l/ US
- /ˈkɑt͡ʃəˌni(ə)l/ US
Rhymes with -iːl
Where it comes from
The noun is borrowed from Middle French cochenille (modern French cochenille), from Italian cocciniglia or Spanish cochinilla; further etymology uncertain, possibly from Latin coccineus, coccinus (“scarlet-dyed; scarlet in colour”) (whence Italian coccineo (“scarlet in colour”)) + Italian -iglia (suffix forming collective nouns), Spanish -illa (“diminutive suffix”). Coccinus is derived from Ancient Greek κόκκῐνος (kókkĭnos, “scarlet; (figurative) blushing”, adjective), from κόκκος (kókkos, “kermes oak (Quercus coccifera); insect of the genus Kermes living on the oak; scarlet dye made from crushed kermes insects”) (possibly from Pre-Greek) + -ῐνος (-ĭnos, suffix forming adjectives).
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, cochineal is not derived from Spanish cochinilla (“pill bug, especially the common pill bug (Armadillidium vulgare)”), a diminutive of cochina (“female pig, sow”) (from the animal’s shape), which coincidentally has the same spelling as cochinilla (“cochineal”).
The adjective is derived from the noun.
noun cochineals · cochinille
- A scale insect of the species Dactylopius coccus, native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, which lives on prickly pear cacti (genus Opuntia). The Cochineel is an Inſect, bred in a ſort of Fruit much like the Prickle Pear. […] The Silveſter gives a colour almoſt as fair as the Cochineel; and ſo like it as to be often miſtaken for it, but it is not near ſo valuable.
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A vivid red dye made from the dried bodies of cochineal insects.
Or if you can finde the berrie of Cochenile with whiche wee colour Stammelles, or any Roote, Berrie, Fruite, wood or earth fitte for dying, you winne a notable thing fitt for our ſtate of clothing. This Cochenile is naturall in the west Indies on that firme.
Similar: E120
- The vivid red colour of this dye. And I to make all knovv, I am not ſhallovv / VVill have my points [i.e., lace] of Cucchineale and yellovv.
adjective
- Possessing a vivid red colour, as or as if produced from dyeing with cochineal dye (noun sense 2). Batavus [a tulip variety], of somewhat the same shade, was slightly taller, and perhaps with a little more cochineal color.
Translations
Every language
noun scale insect of the species Dactylopius coccus
| Español | cochinilla |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 깍지벌레 kkakjibeolle, 연지벌레 yeonjibeolle |
| 日本語 | コチニールカイガラムシ kochinīrukaigaramushi, 臙脂虫 enjimushi |
| 中文 | 胭脂蟲 /胭脂虫 yānzhichóng, yānzhīchóng |
| हिन्दी | क़िरमिज़ qirmiz |
| Português | cochinilha, cochonilha |
| Français | cochenille |
| Deutsch | Cochenille, Cochenillelaus, Cochenilleschildlaus |
| Italiano | cocciniglia |
| Ελληνικά | κοχενίλη kocheníli |
| Русский | кошени́ль košenílʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | bọ yên chi, rệp son |
| العربية | دودة قرمزية |
| עברית | כנימת קוכיניאל |
noun vivid red dye made from the dried bodies of cochineal insects; vivid red colour of this dye
| Español | cochinilla, grana |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 코치닐 kochinil |
| 日本語 | コチニール kochinīru |
| 中文 | 胭脂蟲紅 /胭脂虫红 yānzhīchónghóng |
| हिन्दी | क़िरमिज़ qirmiz |
| Français | cochenille |
| Italiano | cocciniglia |
| Ελληνικά | κοχενίλη kocheníli |
| Русский | кошени́ль košenílʹ |
Talk about this word "cochineal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/cochineal. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. cochineal. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/cochineal "cochineal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/cochineal.Cite this
@misc{cochineal_2026,
title = {cochineal},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/cochineal},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
