bermejo

reddish, vermilion; russet, auburn

Inherited from Old Spanish vermejo (“red”), from Vulgar Latin *vermiclus, syncopated form of Latin vermiculus (“little worm”), from vermis (“worm”), ultimately in reference to Kermes vermilio, a species of scale insect used to make a crimson dye. Compare Portuguese vermelho. Compare also Proto-Slavic *čьrvenъ (“red”), which is a passive participle of *čьrviti (“to dye using *čьrvь”), where *čьrvь is a kind of worm used as a red dye.

red color

Inherited from Old Spanish vermejo (“red”), from Vulgar Latin *vermiclus, syncopated form of Latin vermiculus (“little worm”), from vermis (“worm”), ultimately in reference to Kermes vermilio, a species of scale insect used to make a crimson dye. Compare Portuguese vermelho. Compare also Proto-Slavic *čьrvenъ (“red”), which is a passive participle of *čьrviti (“to dye using *čьrvь”), where *čьrvь is a kind of worm used as a red dye.