alkermes

From Middle French alkermès, probably from Spanish alquermes, from Arabic الْقِرْمِز (al-qirmiz), from Classical Persian کرمست (kirmist), from Middle Persian, from Sanskrit [Term?].

• (UK) IPA^(key): /alˈkəːmɪz/

alkermes (uncountable)

1. The desiccated bodies of certain insects (female Kermes ilicis and Kermes vermilio), which live on the kermes oak, formerly much used as a material for dye and a medicinal ingredient; also a given mixture, preparation etc. containing such insects.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 5, member 1, subsection v:

     But alkermes many except against: in some cases it may help, if it be good […]

2. A red Italian alcoholic liqueur.

Borrowed from Arabic الْقِرْمِز (al-qirmiz).

• IPA^(key): /alˈkɛr.mɛs/
• Rhymes: -ɛrmɛs
• Syllabification: al‧ker‧mes

alkermes m inan

1. alternative form of alkiermes

• alkermes in Polish dictionaries at PWN
• alkermes in Narodowy Fotokorpus Języka Polskiego