cochineal

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English

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WOTD – 24 June 2024

Etymology

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A cluster of cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus; sense 1).
Cochineal dye (sense 2) obtained from the dried bodies of the insects.

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”)[1][2] (whence Italian coccineo (“scarlet in colour”)) + Italian -iglia (suffix forming collective nouns), Spanish -illa (“diminutive suffix”). Coccinus is derived from Ancient Greek κόκκῐνος (kókkinos, “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 (-inos, 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”).[1]

The adjective is derived from the noun.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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cochineal (countable and uncountable, plural cochineals)

  2. (countable) A scale insect of the species Dactylopius coccus, native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, which lives on prickly pear cacti (genus Opuntia).
    • 1697, William Dampier, chapter VIII, in A New Voyage Round the World. […], London: […] James Knapton, […], →OCLC, pages 228–229:
      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.
    • 1930, André Gide, “Back Again”, in Dorothy Bussy, transl., Travels in the Congo […], red seal edition, New York, N.Y.: Modern Age Books, published 1937, →OCLC, part 2 (Back from the Chad), page 194:
      A prodigious quantity of insects of all sorts (but no mosquitoes) assailed us at our evening meal. […] There were some that were larger—earwigs, cochineals, a little mole-cricket, and an enormous mantis. I stuffed a number of them into my poison-bottle.
    • 1936, H. K. Munro, F. A. Fouché, “Introduction”, in A List of the Scale Insects and Mealy Bugs (Coccidae) and Their Host-plants in South Africa = ’n Lys van die Dopluise en Wolluise (Coccidae) en hul Voedsterplante in Suid-Afrika (Union of South Africa, Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin; no. 158), Pretoria, South Africa: Government printer, →OCLC, page 6:
      The cochineal insects belong to the genus Dactylopius and are interesting not only on account of the dye, used in confectionery, that is obtained from them, but also because of the effect certain kinds have on their host-plants. The cochineals that infest certain kinds of prickly pear of the genus Monacantha have such an adverse effect on the plants, that the latter are completely destroyed. […] One of the cochineals that infest the last-named does have a killing effect at times, but by no means so marked.
    • 2003, Thomas Eisner, “The Opportunists”, in For the Love of Insects, Cambridge, Mass.; London: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 318:
      The red dye—or cochineal red as it is called—is present in the body of cochineals, as is clearly apparent if one of the bugs is accidentally squashed. Cochineals were cultivated for their dye in the New World long before the arrival of the Spaniards. When Hernán Cortés entered Mexico in 1519 he was much taken by the widespread use of red in Aztec culture, and was downright dazzled by the magnificence of Montezuma's [i.e., Moctezuma II's] robe.
  4. (uncountable) A vivid red dye made from the dried bodies of cochineal insects.
    Synonym: E120
    Coordinate term: carmine
    • 1527, R[ichard] H[akluyt], compiler, “Notes Framed by a Gentleman heretofore to bee Giuen to One that Prepared for a Discouerie, and Went Not: And Not Unfitt to be Committed to Print, Considering the Same may Stirre up Considerations of These and of such Other Thinges, Not Unmeete in such New Voyages as may be Attempted hereafter”, in Divers Voyages Touching the Discouerie of America, and the Ilands adiacent vnto the Same, […], London: […] [Thomas Dawson] for Thomas Woodcocke, […], published 1582, →OCLC, signatures K2, recto – K2, verso:
      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.
      In the past, the dye was erroneously thought to be from a berry derived from a plant.
    • [1598, John Florio, “Cociniglia”, in A Worlde of Words, or Most Copious, and Exact Dictionarie in Italian and English, […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield for Edw[ard] Blount, →OCLC, page 75, column 3:
      Cociniglia, a kinde of rich flie or graine comming out of India to dye ſcarlet vvith, called Cutchenele.]
    • 1608, [Guillaume de Salluste] Du Bartas, “[Du Bartas His Second VVeeke, […]. Adam. […].] Eden. The I. Part of the I. Day of the II. Week.”, in Josuah Sylvester, transl., Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and Workes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Humfrey Lownes [and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson […]], published 1611, →OCLC, page 231:
      There liues the Sea-oake, in a little ſhel; / There grovves vntill'd the ruddy Cochenel: […]
    • 1615 December 18 (Gregorian calendar), Daniel Baker, “The Examination of Daniel Baker, Late Steward to Captaine Iohn Smith, in the Returne of Plimoth, Taken before Sir Lewis Stukeley Knight, the Eighth of December, 1615”, in Iohn Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, published 1624, →OCLC, book 6; reprinted in The Generall Historie of Virginia, [...] (Bibliotheca Americana), Cleveland, Oh.: The World Publishing Company, 1966, →OCLC, pages 224–225:
      VVithin a day or tvvo after, vve met a VVest-Indies man of vvarre, of one hundred and ſixtie tuns, a fore noone vvee fought vvith her, and then tooke her vvith one thouſand one hundred Hides, fiftie Cheſts of Cutchanele, foureteene Coffers of vvedges of Siluer, eight thouſand Rialls of eight, and ſix Coffers of the King of Spaines Treaſure, beſides the good pillage and rich Coffers of many rich Paſſengers.
    • c. 1622, John Fletcher, Philip Massinger [et al.?], “Beggars Bush”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 77, column 2:
      Flo[rez]. Are you the ovvners / Of the ſhip that laſt night put into the Harbour? / 1 Mar[chant]. Both of the Ship, and lading. / Flo. VVhat's the fraught? / 1 Mar. Indico, Quitchineel, choiſe Chyna ſtuffs.
    • 1725, James Coats, “PURPURE”, in A New Dictionary of Heraldry, Explaining the Terms Us’d in That Science, with Their Etymology, and Different Versions into Latin. […], revised edition, London: […] Jer. Batley […], →OCLC, pages 289–290:
      From this Fiſh [purpura in Latin] the Tyrians drevv a Liquor, vvith vvhich they dy'd Purple, and therefore it vvas call'd Tyrius color. This vvas in thoſe Days, vvhen they knevv no other VVay of dying this Colour, and therefore it vvas exceſſive dear, and only fit for the greateſt Perſons. Aftervvards the Scarlet Berries vvere found upon the Scarlet Oak, vvhich exceeded the Bevvty of the former Colour, and ſince then the VVeſt India Cochinille, has put dovvn both.
    • 1726, Antonio de Herrera [i.e., Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas], “The Remaining Actions of Nuño de Guzman, and Description of the Kingdom of New Galizia”, in John Stevens, transl., The General History of the Vast Continent and Islands of America, Commonly Call’d, the West-Indies, from the First Discovery Thereof: […], volume IV, London: […] Jer. Batley […], →OCLC, page 111:
      There is a Grove of Tuna-Trees above fifty Leagues in Length, vvhere above an hundred Tun of Cochinille might be gather'd every Year.
    • 1751, Geronymo de Uztariz [i.e., Luis Jerónimo of Uztáriz and Hemiaga], “The Importance of Enforcing the Laws already Made in Spain in Favour of an Active Commerce. […]”, in John Kippax, transl., The Theory and Practice of Commerce and Maritime Affairs. […], volume II, London: […] John and James Rivington, […]; and John Crofts, […], →OCLC, page 404:
      Naples, the capital and court of that kingdom, has alſo a conſiderable trade, and vve may likevviſe find there a good market for many American commodities, ſuch as tobacco, cacao, ſugar, cochinille &c. by bartering them for linens, ravv ſilk, and other things.
    • 2003, Thomas Eisner, “The Opportunists”, in For the Love of Insects, Cambridge, Mass.; London: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 318:
      The red dye—or cochineal red as it is called—is present in the body of cochineals, as is clearly apparent if one of the bugs is accidentally squashed. […] The dye was an instant success and it spawned an industry. By the year 1600, cochineal had already become one of Mexico's prime exports, second only to silver and gold in value on a pound-per-pound basis. […] From the region of Oaxaca alone, for the period 1758 to 1780, the production of cochineal amounted on average to about 1 million pounds per year.
  5. (uncountable) The vivid red colour of this dye.
    cochineal:  
    • c. 1621–1623 (date written), Philip Massinger, The Maid of Honour. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot, […], published 1632, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, signature [K4], recto:
      And I to make all knovv, I am not ſhallovv / VVill have my points [i.e., lace] of Cucchineale and yellovv.
    • 2000, Zampanò [pseudonym; Mark Z. Danielewski], “The Navidson Record. Chapter IV.”, in House of Leaves, 2nd edition, New York, N.Y.: Pantheon Books, →ISBN, footnote 33, page 26:
      These days, I'm an apprentice at a tattoo shop on Sunset. […] I just keep staring at all the ink we have, that wild variety of color, everything from rootbeer, midnight blue and cochineal to mauve, light doe, lilac, south sea green, maize, even pelican black, all lined up in these plastic caps, […]

Alternative forms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Adjective

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cochineal (not comparable)

  1. Possessing a vivid red colour, as or as if produced from dyeing with cochineal dye (noun sense 2).
    • 1936 June, R. M. H., “The Cottage Tulips”, in Breeze Hill News, volume II, number 10, Harrisburg, Pa.: J[ohn] Horace McFarland Company, Mount Pleasant Press, →OCLC:
      Batavus [a tulip variety], of somewhat the same shade, was slightly taller, and perhaps with a little more cochineal color.
    • 1997, Richard Pankhurst, “The North: The Land of the Afars, the Country of Bahr Nägash, and Massawa”, in The Ethiopian Borderlands: Essays in Regional History from Ancient Times to the End of the 18th Century, Lawrenceville, N.J.; Asmara, Eritrea: The Red Sea Press, →ISBN, part VI (The Oromo Migration and the Gondarine Monarchy (1522–1800)), page 416:
      The principal imports arriving by sea, then as previously, were textiles, among them coarse cotton cloth, known as Surat, the Indian port from which they were shipped, as well as blue cotton cloth and cochineal cloth called kemis, fine cloth from various parts of India, coarse white cotton cloth, and unspun cotton in balls from Yaman.

Translations

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References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Compare “cochineal, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, June 2024.
  2. ^ “cochineal, n.”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

Further reading

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Anagrams

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