cochenille

French

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

• (France) IPA^(key): /kɔʃ.nij/
• (Quebec) IPA^(key): /kɔʃ.nɪj/

• Audio (France):

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• Audio (France (Lyon)):

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• Audio (France (Somain)):

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Noun

cochenille f (plural cochenilles)

1. any insect of the superfamily Coccoidea, such as Icerya purchasi: a scale insect
2. (especially) cochineal (Dactylopius coccus, insect and pigment)

Further reading

• “cochenille”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012