Crimson

Etymology

Crimson is a type of red. English dictionaries define crimson as a deep red, a rich red, or a purplish red. The word crimson refers to the kermes insect used to create the kermes dye. It comes from the Arabic word for the kermes insect, which was adapted to Medieval Latin and then Middle English, where it referred to both the insect and the dye c. 1400.

Earlier forms include cremesin, crymysyn and cramoysin (cf. cramoisy, a crimson cloth). These were adapted via Old Spanish from the Medieval Latin cremesinus (also kermesinus or carmesinus), the dye produced from Kermes scale insects, and can be traced back to Arabic qirmizi (قرمزي) ("red") (listen), also borrowed in Turkic languages kırmız and many other languages, e.g. German Karmesin, Italian cremisi, French cramoisi, Portuguese carmesim, Dutch karmozijn, etc. (via Latin). The ultimate source from Classical Persian کرمست (kirmist), from Middle Persian; see Proto-Indo-Iranian *kŕ̥miš. Cognate with Sanskrit कृमिज (kṛmija). Doublet of kermes; also see carmine.

A shortened form of carmesinus also gave the Latin carminus, from which comes carmine.

Other cognates include the Persian ghermez "red" derived from "kermest" the red worm, Old Church Slavonic чрьвл҄ѥнъ (črьvl'enъ), archaic Russian чермный (čermnyj), Bulgarian червен (cherven), and Serbo-Croatian crven "red". Cf. also vermilion.

Connotations

Crimson is sometimes used to describe the color of blood. Crimson sometimes described the color of blushing, though brighter reds such as scarlet may also be used in this context.

In descriptive writing, crimson is sometimes used to emphasize the color red in a more intense usage and invoke a stronger emotional connotation. The color can be used negatively to describe anger or malice. It may alternatively be associated with style or class, especially in the context of fashion or interior design.

Dyes

Carmine dyes, which give crimson and related red and purple colors, are based on an aluminium and calcium salt of carminic acid. Carmine lake is an aluminium or aluminium-tin lake of cochineal extract, and crimson lake is prepared by striking down an infusion of cochineal with a 5 percent solution of alum and cream of tartar. Purple lake is prepared like carmine lake with the addition of lime to produce the deep purple tone. Carmine dyes tend to fade quickly.

Carmine dyes were once widely prized in both the Americas and in Europe. They were used in paints by Michelangelo and for the crimson fabrics of the Hussars, the Turks, the British Redcoats, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Nowadays carmine dyes are used for coloring foodstuffs, medicines and cosmetics. As a food additive in the European Union, carmine dyes are designated E120, and are also called cochineal and Natural Red 4. Carmine dyes are also used in some oil paints and watercolors used by artists.

In nature

• The crimson tide which sometimes occurs on beaches is caused by a type of algae known as Karenia brevis.

• Crimson rosellas are a subspecies of parrot that are common in Australia.
• The crimson sunbird is the national bird of Singapore.
• The crimson-breasted gonolek is an African bushshrike with a bright crimson breast.
• Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) is a clover species native to Europe
• Crimson glory vine (Vitis coignetiae) is a vine species native to Asia
• Hind's Crimson Star is an alternative name of the deep orange-red variable star R Leporis

In culture

Literature

• In George R.R. Martin's series A Song of Ice and Fire, crimson is the family color of House Lannister.
• There is a Space Marine chapter in Warhammer 40,000 called the "Crimson Fists", who also paint the left glove of every warrior a deep red.
• In The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower by Stephen King, the principal antagonist is the Crimson King.
• The Flash (Barry Allen), a DC Comics superhero, wears a red costume and runs at super-speed. He is sometimes called The Crimson Comet.
• The Crimson Dynamo is the code name of a line of armor-wearing Soviet agents in Marvel Comics who frequently clash with Iron Man.

Music

• "Crimson and Clover" (1968 song)
• King Crimson (band)
  • In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
    • "The Court of the Crimson King"
• W.A.S.P. - The Crimson Idol (album)
• Crimson (band)
• Crimson, white and indigo is how Jerry Garcia describes the American flag in "Standing on the Moon".
• Sentenced - Crimson (album)
• "Crimson," 2022 song by Skott
• Mark Knopfler - Kill to Get Crimson (album)

Film

• In Guillermo del Toro's 2015 gothic romance film Crimson Peak, the Sharpes' dilapidated mansion Allerdale Hall, which is steadily sinking into the red clay, is referred to as "Crimson Peak" due to the warm red clay seeping through the snow.
• The 1952 film The Crimson Pirate starred Burt Lancaster and Nick Cravat. Set late in the 18th century, on the fictional Caribbean islands of San Pero and Cobra, where a rebellion on Cobra is underway by the mysterious "El Libre". Pirate Captain Vallo captures the King's ship carrying His Majesty's envoy.

Nobility

• In Polish, karmazyn (crimson) is a synonym for a magnate, i.e., a member of the rich, high nobility as only they may wear robing dyed from the scale insect.

Religion

• In scriptures of the Baháʼí Faith, crimson stands for tests and sacrifice, among other things

Food

• Rhubarb is sometimes poetically referred to as crimson stalks.

Military

• The Danish hussar regiment's ceremonial uniform for enlisted members has a crimson pelisse.
• A regiment of the British Army, The King's Royal Hussars still wears crimson trousers as successors to the 11th Hussars (the "Cherrypickers")
• In the United States Army, crimson is the color of the Ordnance Corps.

School colors

• Some Greek letter organizations use crimson as one of their official colors: Delta Sigma Theta (ΔΣΘ), Kappa Alpha Psi (ΚΑΨ), and Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ).
• Crimson is the school color of several universities, including Korea University, University of Belgrano and University of Talca
  • In the United States including, Harvard University, University of Kansas, Indiana University, New Mexico State University, Saint Joseph's University, Tuskegee University, University of Alabama, University of Denver, University of Oklahoma, University of Utah, Washington State University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• The daily newspaper at Harvard is The Harvard Crimson.
• The daily newspaper at Alabama is called The Crimson White.
• Harvard's athletic teams are the Crimson, and those of the University of Alabama are the Crimson Tide.

Vexillology

• Crimson is the national color of Nepal and forms the background of the country's flag. It also appears on the flag of Poland.