English

Noun

vermillion ‎(plural vermillions)

1. Alternative spelling of vermilion

Adjective

vermillion ‎(comparative more vermillion, superlative most vermillion)

1. Alternative spelling of vermilion

Usage notes

• Some authorities^[who?] view this as a misspelling; others consider it a valid but perhaps dated alternative.
• It is entered as a second-listed spelling without prejudice or usage note in major dictionaries.^[1][2][3]
• The OED records 23 citations with this spelling, ranging in date from 1597 to 1865.
• About 30% of the usage of vermilion/vermillion in the US (COCA) is in this spelling. In modern British usage, this spelling is rare (only 2 publications in the BNC, out of thousands).
• Only the one-L spelling appears in Webster's 1828, 1841 and 1913 dictionaries.

References

1. ↑ Merriam-Webster ((Can we date this quote?)) Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster
2. ↑ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ((Can we date this quote?)) The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
3. ↑ Oxford Dictionaries ((Can we date this quote?)) Oxford Dictionaries Online, Oxford University Press