carmin

Forms

carmin (invariable)^[1] Old French charmin (about 1165).^[2][3]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.^[2][3] The Grand Robert, the GLLF and the Petit Robert derive it borrowed from Medieval Latin carminium, a blend of Arabic قِرْمِز (qirmiz, “cochineal”) with Latin minium (“red lead, vermilion”).^[4][5][6] The TLFi and Rey also consider the blend, but note that no such Medieval Latin form is attested, only carmin about 1100, in Theophilus.^[2][3] Bloch and Wartburg likewise speak of a cross of the Arabic word with the descendants of the Latin word,^[7] and the FEW files it under the Arabic word.^[8]

Corominas proposed instead that it is a derivative with the suffix -in of an unrecorded Old French *carme, taken from Spanish carmez (León, 10th century), which came through Hispano-Arabic from the Classical Arabic word.^[2][3] Wiktionary also mentions a contraction of Old French carmesin, and traces the Arabic word to Sanskrit कृमिज (kṛmija, “produced by worms”).^[1] Littré connected it with Late Latin carmesinus and with cramoisi.^[9]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears as charmin in Benoît de Sainte-Maure's Roman de Troie (about 1165).^[2][3][5]

Semantic evolution

The word names a red dye obtained at first from the cochineal insect, and by metonymy the bright red colour of that dye.^[3][2] It has been used as an adjective of colour since 1779, when Buffon described a hummingbird à gorge carmin.^[2][3] The Académie's dictionary noted from 1798 that it was used for painting miniatures, and recorded lèvres de carmin from 1835.^[2]

From it come carminé “carmine-coloured” (1784), mostly in literary description, and the technical verb carminer (1838).^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1100 – Medieval Latin carmin is found in Theophilus.^[2]
• c. 1165 – Charmin in Benoît de Sainte-Maure's Roman de Troie.^[2]
• 1779 – Buffon uses it as an adjective of colour.^[2]
• 1784 – The derivative carminé appears.^[3]
• 1838 – The verb carminer is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A bright red dye obtained at first from female cochineal insects;^[6][2][1] carmin de cochenille.^[6][2][1]
2. A bright red colour, carmine: des lèvres de carmin.^[6][2]
3. The cinnabar moth.^[1]

Adjective

1. Bright red, carmine (invariable): des rubans carmin.^[6][5][9]

Word family

• carminé
• carminer

Related words

• kermès
• alkermès
• cramoisi
• minium
• English carmine

Usage notes

As an adjective of colour it is invariable.^[6][9]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 19, 95a
9. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette