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noun, feminine

cochenille

/kɔʃ.nij/

noun, feminine/kɔʃ.nij/plural: cochenilles

cochineal (insect & pigment)

Inherited from Middle French cochenille, cossenille, probably borrowed from Spanish cochinilla, itself probably a diminutive of cochino. Other proposed etymologies, such as Latin coccinus through the intermediate of Italian cocciniglia, or Ancient Greek κόκκινος (kókkinos) through a Spanish intermediate, are less likely.