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1. A small European evergreen oak (Quercus coccifera) on which the kermes insect (Coccus ilicis) feeds
   - kermes oak
    
2. The dried bodies of the females of a scale insect (Coccus ilicis), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of oak near the Mediterranean. They are round, about the size of a pea, and contain colouring matter analogous to carmine.

Derived forms: kermeses

Encyclopedia: Kermes