4. (Zoöl.) A very fine wavy crosswise color marking, or a patch of such
markings, as on the feathers of birds.
Ver"mi*cule (?), n. [L. vermiculus, dim. of vermis a worm. See
Vermicular.] A small worm or insect larva; also, a wormlike body. [R.]
Derham.
Ver*mic"u*lite (?), n. [L. vermiculus, dim. of vermis worm.] (Min.) A
group of minerals having, a micaceous structure. They are hydrous
silicates, derived generally from the alteration of some kind of mica.
So called because the scales, when heated, open out into wormlike
forms.
{ Ver*mic"u*lose` (?), Ver*mic"u*lous (?), } a. [L. vermiculosus. See
Vermicule.] Containing, or full of, worms; resembling worms.
Ver"mi*form (?), a. [L. vermis a worm + -form.] Resembling a worm in
form or motions; vermicular; as, the vermiform process of the
cerebellum.
Vermiform appendix (Anat.), a slender blind process of the cæcum in man
and some other animals; — called also vermiform appendage, and
vermiform process. Small solid bodies, such as grape seeds or cherry
stones, sometimes lodge in it, causing serious, or even fatal,
inflammation. See Illust. under Digestion.
||Ver`mi*for"mi*a (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A tribe of worms including
||Phoronis. See Phoronis.
||
Ver*mif"u*gal (?), a. [L. vermis a worm + fugare to drive away, fr.
fugere to flee. See Worm, and Fugitive.] (Med.) Tending to prevent,
destroy, or expel, worms or vermin; anthelmintic.
Ver"mi*fuge (?), n. [Cf. F. vermifuge. See Vermifugal.] (Med.) A
medicine or substance that expels worms from animal bodies; an
anthelmintic.
Ver"mil (?), n. See Vermeil. [Obs.] Spenser.
||Ver`mi*lin"gui*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. vermis worm + lingua
||tongue.] [Called also Vermilingues.] (Zoöl.) (a) A tribe of edentates
||comprising the South American ant-eaters. The tongue is long,
||slender, exsertile, and very flexible, whence the name. (b) A tribe
||of Old World lizards which comprises the chameleon. They have long,
||flexible tongues.
||
Ver*mil"ion (?), n. [F. vermillon. See Vermeil.] 1. (Chem.) A bright
red pigment consisting of mercuric sulphide, obtained either from the
mineral cinnabar or artificially. It has a fine red color, and is much
used in coloring sealing wax, in printing, etc.
The kermes insect has long been used for dyeing red or scarlet. It was
formerly known as the worm dye, vermiculus, or vermiculum, and the
cloth was called vermiculatia. Hence came the French vermeil for any
red dye, and hence the modern name vermilion, although the substance it
denotes is very different from the kermes, being a compound of mercury
and sulphur. R. Hunt.
2. Hence, a red color like the pigment; a lively and brilliant red; as,
cheeks of vermilion.
Ver*mil"ion, v. t. To color with vermilion, or as if with vermilion; to
dye red; to cover with a delicate red.
Ver"mi*ly (?), n. Vermeil. [Obs.] Spenser.
Ver"min (?), n. sing. & pl.; used chiefly as plural. [OE. vermine, F.
vermine, from L. vermis a worm; cf. LL. vermen a worm, L. verminosus
full of worms. See Vermicular, Worm.] 1. An animal, in general. [Obs.]
Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and vermin,
and worms, and fowls.
Acts x. 12. (Geneva Bible).
This crocodile is a mischievous fourfooted beast, a dangerous vermin,
used to both elements.
Holland.
2. A noxious or mischievous animal; especially, noxious little animals
or insects, collectively, as squirrels, rats, mice, flies, lice, bugs,
etc. "Cruel hounds or some foul vermin." Chaucer.
Great injuries these vermin, mice and rats, do in the field.
Mortimer.
They disdain such vermin when the mighty boar of the forest . . . is
before them.
Burke.