Plural of carmine; deep red or crimson pigments or dyes derived from insect sources, traditionally used in paints and cosmetics.
From Arabic qirmiz referring to the kermes insect; the dye comes from cochineal insects native to Central America, named through multiple language translations.
Carmine red comes from crushed cochineal beetles—so many fabrics and lipsticks that make us think of as plant-based are actually insect-based, a fact that would have shocked medieval dyers.
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