alkermes
noun
al·ker·mes
alˈkərmēz,
-mə̇s;
ˌalkərˈmes
plural -es
1
obsolete : the kermes insect
2
: an originally Italian liqueur made of brandy flavored with bay leaves, mace, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon and colored a brilliant red with the kermes insect or with cochineal
Word History
Etymology
French alkermès, from Spanish alkermes (now usually alquermes), from Arabic al-qirmiz the alkermes
First Known Use
1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1