vermilion

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A vivid red synthetic pigment made of mercury sulfide, cinnabar.

   “Take ſix Ounces of Brimſtone, and melt it in an Iron Ladle, then put two Pound of Quick-ſilver into a ſhammy Leather, or double Linnen Cloth, and ſqueeze it out into the melted Brimſtone, ſtirring them, in the mean Time, with a wooden Spatula till they are well united; and when they are cold, beat the Maſs into a Powder, and ſublime it in a Glaſs-veſſel, with a ſtrong Fire, and it will riſe into that Red Subſtance, which is called artificial Cinnabar or Vermilion.”

   “Fanny was very pretty; her eyes were dark and brilliant, her teeth were like little pearls; her mouth was almost as red as Mademoiselle Caracoline’s when the latter had put on her vermilion.”

2. (countable, uncountable)A bright orange-red colour.

   “While this particular difference in the shade of vermilion is very striking in the symmetrical, smooth skins of even and regular make, which I have just compared, I must confess that it probably would not be in rough skins such as some European ornithologists appear still content with.”

3. (countable, uncountable)A type of red dye worn in the parting of the hair by married Hindu women.
4. (countable, uncountable)The red skin of the lips or its border with the skin of the face.
5. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)The kermes or cochineal insect.
6. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)The cochineal dye made from this insect.

adj

1. Having a brilliant red colour.
2. Having the color of the vermilion dye.

verb

1. (transitive)To color or paint vermilion.

   “Coraly has few of thoſe charms that conſtitute perſonal excellence—her cheek is pallid—her eye no brilliant; but when the latter beams benevolence, or ſparkles with mirth—when the former is ſuffuſed with the captivating bluſh of modeſty, or vermilioned with the glow of the tender paſſion, there are none more pleaſing.”