† sericonn.

Etymology: < post-classical Latin sericon (indeclinable) (15th cent. in a British source), perhaps (directly or indirectly) < Byzantine Greek σηρικόν red pigment (in alchemical texts), itself perhaps a variant or alteration of Byzantine Greek Συρικόν sandyx, use as noun of Συρικός Syrian (compare post-classical Latin Syricum red pigment; for both, see Syric adj.).Isidore ( Origines 19. 17. 6) explicitly distinguishes Syricum , denoting red pigment, and classical Latin sēricum silk (see Seric adj.). Compare also: (i) post-classical Latin siricum red pigment, probably red lead (attested in undated glossaries, and 13th cent. in a British source); (ii) post-classical Latin Syricum in the following quot., which apparently likewise denotes a red pigment, and may simply follow Isidore:1538 T. Elyot Dict. Syricum, a color mixt with sinoper & ruddel. and (iii) post-classical Latin siricon and syricon in another work by Elyot:1542 T. Elyot Bibliotheca Sandyx, is a poulder made of Cerussa burned till it waxe red... It was also called Siricon, or Syricon. It has sometimes been suggested, albeit without sufficient supporting evidence, that post-classical Latin sericon represents a borrowing of Byzantine Greek σηρικόν via Arabic; compare Arabic sīriqūn red lead (8th or 9th cent. in alchemical texts), of uncertain origin.