Also 7–9 vermillion, 7 virmilion. [f. the sb. Cf. OF. vermeilloner, later and mod.F. vermilloner.]
1. trans. To color or paint with, or as with, vermilion; to give the color of vermilion to (the face, etc.).
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XVI. ci. 400. Nay, why should faces faire indeed bo-peepe behinde a Fanne, Or be conceild in Satten, now Vermiliond, now drugd wanne.
1740. trans. De Mouhy’s Fort. Country-Maid (1741), II. 85. I disapprov’d of the Red with which their Faces were vermillion’d.
1756. Toldervy, Hist. 2 Orphans, IV. 215. Lusty lovely health vermillions the honest cheek.
1771–2. Ess. fr. Batchelor (1773), I. 93. When a blush vermilions the face of a well-bred woman.
1812. G. Colman, Br. Grins, Lady of Wreck, II. viii. A transient hectic spread, Vermilioning health’s softer red.
a. 1849. J. C. Mangan, Sel. Poems (1897), 105. The pall of the sunset fell, Vermilioning earth and water.
fig. 1667. Denham, Direct. Paint., IV. viii. Vermilion this mans guilt, ceruse his fears.
a. 1849. J. C. Mangan, Poems (1859), 154. By thee [sc. Hope] are his visions vermillioned.
b. Const. over (o’er).
1656. S. Holland, Zara (1719), 32. That lip … was not Vermillion’d over for any to kiss.
1697. Congreve, Mourn. Bride, II. iii. I … chaf’d Thy temples, ’till reviving blood arose, And, like the morn, vermillion’d o’er thy face.
1769. W. Jackson, in Monthly Rev., XLII. 171. The choicest fruits … vermillioned over with maiden blushes.
c. slang. To cover or besmear with blood.
1817. Sporting Mag., L. 53. Holt’s face was completely vermillioned.
2. intr. To blush. rare–0.
1719. Boyer, Dict. Royal, II. s.v.
Hence Vermilioned ppl. a.
1615. R. Niccols, Marriage & Wiving, vii. 21. To what end is the laying out of the embrodred haire, embared breasts, virmilioned checkes, alluring lookes [etc.].
1725. Fam. Dict., s.v. Verjuice, The Secret how to keep Verjuice Grapes, as vermillion’d and as fresh as if they were growing.
1773. J. Ross, Fratricide, V. 697 (MS.). Those once-vermillion’d lips now pale with death!
1836–48. B. D. Walsh, Aristoph., Acharnians, I. i. The citizens are … running up and down, To get away from the vermilion’d rope.
1867. Augusta Wilson, Vashti, xxv. Then, pink flesh, hazel eyes, vermilioned lips, and glossy hair had preferred incontestable claims to beauty.
