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Cochineal

The dried female insects, coccus cacti, enclosing the young larvae, or the dried female insect, Dactylopius coccus, containing eggs and larvae, from which coccinellin is obtained; used as a red colouring agent and a stain.

See: carmine.

Synonym: coccinella, coccus.

Origin: O.Sp. Cochinilla, wood louse, fr. G. Kokkinos, berry