earwig
Meaningear-beetle
Common meaning: a small insect with pincers at its tail
- earwigear + insectSkeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), p. 184 · scan
Journey through time
- Old Englishēarwicga‘earwig’source
- Englishearwig‘a small insect with pincers at its tail’ · today
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: not available. Respelling: generated.
- US IPA: not available. Respelling: generated.
Origin: Built on Old English ēare + wicga ‘ear + insect’.
Roots
- ēare + wicga Old English “ear + insect”
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