vermilion

Middle English vermilioun, borrowed from Anglo-French vermeilloun, from vermeil “bright red, red color” (going back to Late Latin vermiculus “bright red color (obtained from kermes),” going back to Latin, “insect larva, grub,” from vermis “worm” + -culus, diminutive suffix) + -on, diminutive or particularizing suffix, going back to Latin -ō, -ōn-, suffix of persons with a prominent feature — more at ¹worm

First Known Use: 13th century