Defn: Tending to prevent, destroy, or expel, worms or vermin; anthelmintic.
VERMIFUGE
Ver"mi*fuge, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vermifuge. See Vermifugal.] (Med.)
Defn: A medicine or substance that expels worms from animal bodies; an anthelmintic.
VERMIL
Ver"mil, n.
Defn: See Vermeil. [Obs.] Spenser.
VERMILINGUIA Ver`mi*lin"gui*a, n. pl. Etym: [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.
VERMILION
Ver*mil"ion, n. Etym: [F. vermillon. See Vermeil.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: 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.
Note: 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.