\Coch"i*neal\ (?; 277), [Sp. cochinilla, dim. from L.
coccineus, coccinus, scarlet, fr. coccum the kermes berry, G.
? berry, especially the kermes insect, used to dye scarlet,
as the cohineal was formerly supposed to be the grain or seed
of a plant, and this word was formerly defined to be the
grain of the {Quercus coccifera}; but cf. also Sp. cochinilla
wood louse, dim. of cochina sow, akin to F. cochon pig.]
A dyestuff consisting of the dried bodies of females of the
{Coccus cacti}, an insect native in Mexico, Central America,
etc., and found on several species of cactus, esp. {Opuntia
cochinellifera}.
Note: These insects are gathered from the plant, killed by
      the application of heat, and exposed to the sun to dry.
      When dried they resemble small, rough berries or seeds,
      of a brown or purple color, and form the cochineal of
      the shops, which is used for making carmine, and also
      as a red dye.
Note: Cochineal contains as its essential coloring matter
      carminic acid, a purple red amorphous substance which
      yields carmine red.