earwig
Part of speech: noun
verb
Morphological type: compound
Etymology: From Middle English erwigge, from Old English ēarwicga, from ēare (“ear”) + wicga (“insect”), so named from the appearance of the hindwings, which are unique in their resemblance to human ears when unfolded.
Compound parts: ēare
wicga
Inflected forms:
form: earwigs
pos: noun
tags: plural
form: earwigs
pos: verb
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: earwigging
pos: verb
tags: participle
present
form: earwigged
pos: verb
tags: participle
past
form: earwigged
pos: verb
tags: past
Senses:
gloss: Any of various insects of the order Dermaptera that have elongated bodies, large membranous wings folded underneath short leathery forewings and a pair of large pincers protruding from the rear of the abdomen.
pos: noun
examples: "That's a fine young fellow," said the historiographer of earwigs, to an American who stood next him in the crowd.
The idea was probably strengthened by the earwig′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 when earwigs 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 in International 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 in Encyclopedia 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 another earwig. Earwigs are nocturnal, spending the day hidden under leaf debris, in cracks and crevices, and in other dark locations.
gloss: One who whispers insinuations; a secret counsellor.
pos: noun
examples: That gawdy earwig, or my lord your patron, Whose pensioner you are.
gloss: A flatterer.
pos: noun
gloss: To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
gloss: To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: In the interim, rest assured that Mr. Atherstone is by no means your friend, for he was perpetually earwigging poor Sir Rowland.
The hon. gentleman Mr. Reynolds had expressed his fears that the Government would allow themselves to be earwigged out of the money.
gloss: To eavesdrop.
pos: verb
tags: UK
intransitive
slang
examples: 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 Mum earwigging.
The nameless earwigging 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.″
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 they earwigged—not something you ever do, Jonty.
gloss: To eavesdrop on.
pos: verb
tags: UK
slang
transitive
examples: 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 cheerfully earwigging our conversation.
Derived words: black earwig
common brown earwig
common earwig
common European earwig
earwigfly
earwiggy
maritime earwig
ringlegged earwig
Translations: