cinnabar

Meaning

Noun

1. A deep red mineral, mercuric sulfide, HgS; the principal ore of mercury; such ore used as the pigment vermilion.
2. A bright red colour tinted with orange.
3. A species of moth, Tyria jacobaeae, having red patches on its predominantly black wings.
4. The Elixir of Life.

Adj

Of a bright red colour tinted with orange.

Synonyms

vermilion

cinnabar moth

vermillion

Callimorpha jacobeae

Chinese-red

mercuric sulfide

cinnabarite

sinoper

sinopia

sinopis

Spanish red

zinnober

Cinnabaris

vermilion cinnabar

annatto

vermilion mercuric blende

minium

quicksilver

red

red lead

rouge

red mercuric sulphur

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsɪn.əˌbɑɹ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: cynabare

In summary

First attested in the mid-15th century. From Middle English cynabare, from Old French cinabre, from Latin cinnabaris, from Ancient Greek κιννάβαρι (kinnábari), of unknown origin.