Where does “alkermes” come from?
alkermes (English) comes from Middle French alkermès, from Spanish alquermes, from Arabic قرمز, from Persian کرمست, from Sanskrit कृमिज, from Sanskrit कृमि, from Proto-Indo-Aryan kŕ̥miṣ, from Proto-Indo-Iranian kŕ̥miš — worm.
alkermes (English): 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
Definitions
- 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
Ancestry of “alkermes”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | alkermès | — |
| 2 | Spanish | alquermes | — |
| 3 | Arabic | قرمز | kermes insect; kermes dye color, a shade of red... |
| 4 | Persian | کرمست | — |
| 5 | Sanskrit | कृमिज | produced by worms |
| 6 | Sanskrit | कृमि | a worm, insect; "a spider"; a silk-worm |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-Aryan | kŕ̥miṣ | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | kŕ̥miš | worm |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷŕ̥mis | worm |