the dried bodies of the females of a scale insect (coccus ilicis), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of oak near the mediterranean. they are round, about the size of a pea, contain coloring matter analogous to carmine, and are used in dyeing. they were anciently thought to be of a vegetable nature, and were used in medicine.-a small european evergreen oak (quercus coccifera) on which the kermes insect (coccus ilicis) feeds.