CRIMSON

crimson, the name of a strong, bright red colour tinged to a greater or less degree with purple. it is the colour of the dye produced from the dried bodies of the cochineal insect (_coccus cacti_). the word, in its earlier forms _cremesin, crymysyn_, also _cramoysin_, cf. "cramoisy," the name of a red cloth, is adapted from the med. lat. _cremesinus_ for _kermesinus_ or _carmesinus_, the dye produced from the insect _kermes_ (_coccus ilicis_), arab. _quirmiz_, which skeat (_etym. dict._, 1898) connects with the sanskrit _krimi_, cognate with lat. _vermis_ and eng. "worm." from the lat. _carminus_, a shortened form of carmesinus, comes "carmine" (q.v.).