Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “vermilion” come from?

Vermilion comes from Middle English vermylon, from Old French vermeillon, from Old French vermeil, from Latin vermiculus, derived from Latin vermis meaning worm, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wer-.

vermilion (English): A vivid red synthetic pigment made of mercury...

Definitions

  1. A vivid red synthetic pigment made of mercury...

Ancestry of “vermilion”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishvermelioun—
2Old Frenchvermeillonvermilion
3Old Frenchvermeilvermillion
4Vulgar Latinvermicluspurple, red
5LatinvermiculusA little worm or grub in decaying things
6Latinvermisa worm
7Latinfugāre—
8Latinfugerethird-person plural perfect active indicative of...
9Proto-Italicfugiōto flee
10Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰewg-to flee; to enjoy, benefit

Words derived from “vermilion”

  • vermilionectomy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰewg- →