n.
Variant: also ver · mil · lion
Pronunciation: v ə r- ' mil-y ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English vermilioun, from Anglo-French vermeilloun, from vermeil, adjective, bright red, vermilion, from Late Latin vermiculus kermes, from Latin, little worm
Date: 13th century
1 : a bright red pigment consisting of mercuric sulfide broadly : any of various red pigments
2 : a vivid reddish orange