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.

Vermiformia
(||Ver`mi*for"mi*a) n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A tribe of worms including Phoronis. See Phoronis.

Vermifugal
(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.

Vermifuge
(Ver"mi*fuge) n. [Cf. F. vermifuge. See Vermifugal.] (Med.) A medicine or substance that expels worms from animal bodies; an anthelmintic.

Vermil
(Ver"mil) n. See Vermeil. [Obs.] Spenser.

Vermilinguia
(||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.

Vermilion
(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.

Vermilion
(Ver*mil"ion), v. t. To color with vermilion, or as if with vermilion; to dye red; to cover with a delicate red.

Vermily
(Ver"mi*ly) n. Vermeil. [Obs.] Spenser.

Vermin
(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.]

Vermicule
(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.

Vermiculite
(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.

Vermiculose
(Ver*mic"u*lose` Ver*mic"u*lous) a. [L. vermiculosus. See Vermicule.] Containing, or full of, worms; resembling worms.

Vermiform
(Ver"mi*form) a. [L. vermis a worm + -form.] Resembling a worm in form or motions; vermicular; as, the vermiform process of the cerebellum.


  By PanEris using Melati.

Previous chapter/page Back Home Email this Search Discuss Bookmark Next chapter/page
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission.
See our FAQ for more details.