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earwig

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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earwig on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology

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FromMiddle Englisherwigge, fromOld Englishēarwicga, fromēare(“ear”) +‎wicga(“insect”), so named from a popular belief that they are able to penetrate a person's head through the ear.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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earwig (pluralearwigs)

  1. Any of variousinsects of the orderDermaptera that have elongated bodies, large membranous wings folded underneath short leathery forewings and a pair of large pincers protruding from the rear of theabdomen.
    Synonyms:(Geordie)forkytail,pincher bug,(UK, dialectal)twinge
    • 1856, L. S. Lavenu, chapter XVII, inErlesmere; or, Contrasts of Character, volume 1, London: Smith, Elder & Co.,page171:
      "That's a fine young fellow," said the historiographer ofearwigs, to an American who stood next him in the crowd.
    • 2001, Jan Harold Brunvand,Encyclopedia of Urban Legends,page128:
      The idea was probably strengthened by theearwig′s appearance, with a sharp, pincer-like appendage extending to the rear. However,earwigs are herbivores, and they are no more likely to enter an ear than are ants, bees, flies, or any other small insect. Even whenearwigs do occasionally find their way into human ears, they cannot burrow their way through the skin and into the brain.
    • 2002, Maurice Burton, Robert Burton,Nuthatch, entry inInternational Wildlife Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition,page 1762,
      Nuthatches search the crevices of bark at other times during the year for insects, including beetles,earwigs, flies and bugs, and they open galls (swellings in plants) to extract grubs.
    • 2008, John L. Capinera (editor),European Earwig, Forficula auricularia, Linnaeus (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), entry inEncyclopedia of Entomology,page 1370,
      Adults can use the cerci in defense, twisting the abdomen forward over the head or sideways to engage an enemy, often anotherearwig.Earwigs are nocturnal, spending the day hidden under leaf debris, in cracks and crevices, and in other dark locations.
  2. One who whispersinsinuations; asecretcounsellor.
  3. Aflatterer.

Derived terms

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Translations

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insect of the order Dermaptera

Verb

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earwig (third-person singular simple presentearwigs,present participleearwigging,simple past and past participleearwigged)

  1. (transitive) To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations.
  2. (transitive) To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk.
    • 1831 November, Edward Lancaster, “Appearances”, inThe Ladies′ Museum,page202:
      In the interim, rest assured that Mr. Atherstone is by no means your friend, for he was perpetuallyearwigging poor Sir Rowland.
    • 1866 February 23, South Australian Parliament,Debates in the Houses of Legislature: September 29 1865-March 16 1866,page1127:
      The hon. gentleman Mr. Reynolds had expressed his fears that the Government would allow themselves to beearwigged out of the money.
  3. (intransitive, UK, slang) Toeavesdrop.
    • 2007, Russell K. Lewis,In a Moment...: Book One of the Ley of the Land‎[1], page381:
      He had heard nothing from Fin, or anyone else, since the angry exchange the other night and was worried about how things were going, but he couldn′t ask about the LeMotts, not with Mumearwigging.
    • 2007, Cat Rambo, Jeff VanderMeer,The Strange Case of the Lovecraft Café: The Surgeon′s Tale and Other Stories,page89:
      The namelessearwigging writer scrawled in his notebook that “MS and CT also considered that such low life would have a greater pride and satisfaction in life if they could themselves be cooked and served still bleating to rich diners.″
    • 2010, Charlie Cochrane,Lessons in Seduction‎[2], page100:
      This man turned up on the last train, wanting a room, and his name had been odd enough to stay in the children′s minds as theyearwigged—not something you ever do, Jonty.
  4. (transitive, UK, slang) Toeavesdrop on.
    • 2017 December 1, Leo Lewis, “Eric Cantona on seagulls, fixing Man Utd and why you can't buy passion”, inFinancial Times‎[3]:
      We are meeting at a friendly, higher-end Shanghai brunching spot beloved of expats—cramped and informal enough that one of the three bankers at the next table is cheerfullyearwigging our conversation.

Translations

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To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations

See also

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extant orders of insects in English
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