资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Cochineal \Coch"i*neal\ (?; 277), [Sp. cochinilla, dim. from L.
   coccineus, coccinus, scarlet, fr. coccum the kermes berry, G.
   ? berry, especially the kermes insect, used to dye scarlet,
   as the cohineal was formerly supposed to be the grain or seed
   of a plant, and this word was formerly defined to be the
   grain of the {Quercus coccifera}; but cf. also Sp. cochinilla
   wood louse, dim. of cochina sow, akin to F. cochon pig.]
   A dyestuff consisting of the dried bodies of females of the
   {Coccus cacti}, an insect native in Mexico, Central America,
   etc., and found on several species of cactus, esp. {Opuntia
   cochinellifera}.

   Note: These insects are gathered from the plant, killed by
         the application of heat, and exposed to the sun to dry.
         When dried they resemble small, rough berries or seeds,
         of a brown or purple color, and form the cochineal of
         the shops, which is used for making carmine, and also
         as a red dye.

   Note: Cochineal contains as its essential coloring matter
         carminic acid, a purple red amorphous substance which
         yields carmine red.