cochineal

Meanings

• A small insect, Dactylopius coccus, which secretes a red pigment used for food coloring and cosmetics.

  - "The cochineal insect is a source of natural red food coloring."
  - "Cochineal is a small insect found in dry regions that produces a natural red pigment used for food coloring and cosmetics."

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Synonyms

E120

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with cochineal
cochina , hochina , mochina

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Variants

List of all variants of cochineal that leads to same result
cochineal , cochineals , cochineal insect , cochineal insects

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Latin word coccus, meaning 'grain' or 'berry'. The name refers to the small size and shape of the cochineal insect.

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Trivia

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1. The cochineal insect was first discovered and described by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in the 16th century.

2. The red pigment produced by the cochineal insect was once used as a dye for textiles, and was known as 'carmine' or 'cochineal red'.

3. The cochineal insect is native to Mexico, and was traditionally harvested by indigenous people using a method called 'rape de cochinillas', which involved brushing the insects off the plant with a soft-bristled brush.

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Related Concepts

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1. Natural food coloring: A substance used to add color to food, derived from natural sources rather than synthetic chemicals.

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Culture

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Cochineal has been used for food coloring and cosmetics for centuries. In Mexico, where the cochineal insect is native, it has been used as a food source and for medicinal purposes since ancient times. The red pigment produced by the cochineal insect was also used by the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations for food coloring and cosmetics.

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