earwig

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an elongated insect with a pair of forceps-like pincers at the end of its abdomen

   An earwig hid beneath the damp flowerpot during the day.

Simplified etymology

Earwig is an Old English word associated with the old belief that the insect crawled into people’s ears. Its second element is related to wiggle, rather than to wig.

From Middle English erwigge and Old English earwicga, literally 'ear insect', from eare 'ear' + wicga 'insect'. The name is traditionally linked to old folklore that the insect crawls into people's ears; the precise original motivation is uncertain.

Topics

External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary