cochineal
0 synonyms and 0 antonyms for cochineal, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A scale insect of the species Dactylopius coccus, native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, which lives on prickly pear cacti (genus Opuntia).
We haven't recorded synonyms for cochineal yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.
Etymology
The noun is borrowed from Middle French cochenille (modern French cochenille), from Italian cocciniglia or Spanish cochinilla; further etymology uncertain, possibly from Latin coccineus, coccinus (“scarlet-dyed; scarlet in colour”) (whence Italian coccineo (“scarlet in colour”)) + Italian -iglia (suffix forming collect...
Full origin of cochineal →