crimson

Where does the word "crimson" come from? It comes from Arabic qirmizi, passing through Old Spanish before entering English (medieval).

Crimson’s story begins in Arabic: qirmizi meant “a deep red dye color.” From "qirmiz", the kermes insect used to make red dye. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old Spanish as cremesin. From the kermes insect, whose dried bodies gave the red dye. It reached English by medieval as crimson. Settled as the English name for the deep red color. Today, crimson means a rich, deep red color.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval qirmizi "a deep red dye color", from "qirmiz", the kermes insect used to make red dye.
2. Stage 2 · Old Spanish · medieval cremesin "a deep red color", from the kermes insect, whose dried bodies gave the red dye.
3. Stage 3 · English · medieval crimson "a rich, deep red color", settled as the English name for the deep red color.