earwig
earwig
Definition
ear·wig (ir′wig′)
noun
any of an order (Dermaptera) of widely distributed insects with short, horny forewings, a pair of forceps at the terminal end of the abdomen, and biting mouthparts
Etymology: ME erwig < OE earwicga < eare, ear + wicga, beetle, worm < IE base *weik-, to wind, bend > L vicia, vetch: so called from the baseless notion that it particularly seeks out the human ear to crawl into
earwig
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- find: These titles may have arisen when people slept at floor level, and found earwigs searching for dark cavities.
Adjective modifier
Browse dictionary entries near earwig
- earwax
- earthy
- earthworm
- earthwork
- earthwards
- earthward
- earthstar
- earthshine
- earthshaking
- earthrise
- ease
- easeful
- easel
- easement
- easily
- easiness
- east
- East Anglia
- East Asia
- East Berlin
