earwig en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
- /ˈɪə(ɹ)wɪɡ/
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. Compare typologically Dutch oorworm, German Ohrwurm, Danish ørentvist; French perce-oreille, Romanian urechelniță; Russian уховёртка (uxovjórtka), Serbo-Croatian uholaža, Slovak ucholak; Lithuanian auslinda (all are cognates via Proto-Indo-European *h₂ows-). Also compare Mongolian чихүүр хорхой (čixüür xorxoj) (<+ чих (čix)), Turkish kulağakaçan (<+ kulak).
Meanings
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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.
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.
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.
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.
2001, Jan Harold Brunvand, Encyclopedia of Urban Legends, page 128:"That's a fine young fellow," said the historiographer of earwigs, to an American who stood next him in the crowd.
1856, L. S. Lavenu, chapter XVII, in Erlesmere; or, Contrasts of Character, volume 1, London: Smith, Elder & Co., page 171:
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One who whispers insinuations; a secret counsellor.
That gawdy earwig, or my lord your patron, Whose pensioner you are.
1633, John Ford (dramatist), The Broken Heart:
- A flatterer.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| earwigs | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| earywig | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
ringlegged earwig · earwiggy · European earwig · earwigfly · maritime earwig · common brown earwig · common earwig · common European earwig · black earwig
Synonyms
pincher bug · forkytail · twinge
Translations (85)
gmh ôrenwützel (insect of the order Dermaptera) · fr perce-oreille (insect of the order Dermaptera) · cy pryf clustiog (insect of the order Dermaptera) · pl cęgosz (insect of the order Dermaptera) · de Ohrwurm (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ru уховёртка (insect of the order Dermaptera) · pl szczypawka (insect of the order Dermaptera) · zu umkhothane (insect of the order Dermaptera) · pt bicha-cadela (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ro urechelniță (insect of the order Dermaptera) · chr ᎦᎴᎾᎩ (insect of the order Dermaptera) · gl rapacarallas (insect of the order Dermaptera) · sh strižavka (insect of the order Dermaptera) · sk ucholak (insect of the order Dermaptera) · it forfecchia (insect of the order Dermaptera) · nl oorworm (insect of the order Dermaptera) · eo forfikulo (insect of the order Dermaptera) · mi matā (insect of the order Dermaptera) · gv gollage (insect of the order Dermaptera) · fo tvísterta (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ast berbesa (insect of the order Dermaptera) · mi hiore kakati (insect of the order Dermaptera) · fy foarkestekker (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ast forcadiella (insect of the order Dermaptera) · mos kara-nanga (insect of the order Dermaptera) · de Ohrkneifer (insect of the order Dermaptera) · nrf pèrche-ouothelle (insect of the order Dermaptera) · pt tesourinha (insect of the order Dermaptera) · gd gòbhlachan (insect of the order Dermaptera) · da ørentvist (insect of the order Dermaptera) · gl zormicadela (insect of the order Dermaptera) · it forficula (insect of the order Dermaptera) · th แมงคาเรือง (insect of the order Dermaptera) · sl strigalica (insect of the order Dermaptera) · gl cadela faldrexa (insect of the order Dermaptera) · aii ܩܸܪܨܘܿ (insect of the order Dermaptera) · enm erwigge (insect of the order Dermaptera) · lv spīļaste (insect of the order Dermaptera) · az qısqac (insect of the order Dermaptera) · gl cadela de frade (insect of the order Dermaptera) · pt rapino (insect of the order Dermaptera) · bg щипалка (insect of the order Dermaptera) · vi sâu tai (insect of the order Dermaptera) · lb Ouereschlëffer (insect of the order Dermaptera) · enm erwig (insect of the order Dermaptera) · cs škvor (insect of the order Dermaptera) · gd gòbhlag (insect of the order Dermaptera) · gl forcadela (insect of the order Dermaptera) · tr kulağakaçan (insect of the order Dermaptera) · rap ŋarara (insect of the order Dermaptera) · cy pryf clust (insect of the order Dermaptera) · es tijereta (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ar أَبُو مِقَصّ (insect of the order Dermaptera) · fi pihtihäntäinen (insect of the order Dermaptera) · mos ka-nanga (insect of the order Dermaptera) · uk щи́павка (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ja 蠼螋 (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ang ēarwiċġa (insect of the order Dermaptera) · nv jeeʼiighááh (insect of the order Dermaptera) · sco hornie-gollach (insect of the order Dermaptera) · pl skorek (insect of the order Dermaptera) · sv tvestjärt (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ja 鋏虫 (insect of the order Dermaptera) · hu fülbemászó (insect of the order Dermaptera) · cmn 蠼螋 (insect of the order Dermaptera) · pl szczypawica (insect of the order Dermaptera) · uk вухове́ртка (insect of the order Dermaptera) · pt lacrainha (insect of the order Dermaptera) · zlw-ocs škvoř (insect of the order Dermaptera) · cy chwilen glust (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ca tisoreta (insect of the order Dermaptera) · no saksedyr (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ga gailseach (insect of the order Dermaptera) · gur baga (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ka ყურბელა (insect of the order Dermaptera) · de Ohrenkriecher (insect of the order Dermaptera) · sh uholaža (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ko 집게벌레 (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ota قولاغه قاچان (insect of the order Dermaptera) · et kõrvahark (insect of the order Dermaptera) · az qulağagirən (insect of the order Dermaptera) · ca papaorelles (insect of the order Dermaptera) · mn чихүүр хорхой (insect of the order Dermaptera) · fr forficule (insect of the order Dermaptera) · gd fiolan-cluaise (insect of the order Dermaptera)