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Added 10 October 2026

carmine

/ˈkɑːmaɪn/ noun

In Latin: cocceus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about carmine at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A variable color averaging a vivid red.

verb

Color carmine.

adjective

Of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies.

Origin

PIE word *kʷŕ̥mis Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kʷŕ̥mis Proto-Indo-Iranian *kŕ̥miš Persian کرمست* (*kermest)bor. Arabic قِرْمِز (qirmiz)bor. Medieval Latin *carminium? French carminder. English carmine From French carmin, from irregular Medieval Latin carminium, itself from Arabic قِرْمِز (qirmiz, “crimson, kermes”) from Persian *کرمست (*kermest), ultimately from Proto-Indo-Iranian *kŕ̥miš (“worm”), plus or with influence from Latin minium. Compare crimson and kermes.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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