- earwig ear·wig n
- ['ɪəˌwɪɡ]
(insect) forbicina
English-Italian dictionary. 2013.
earwig ear·wig n
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Earwig — Ear wig ([=e]r w[i^]g ), n. [AS. e[ a]rwicga; e[ a]re ear + wicga beetle, worm: cf. Prov. E. erri wiggle.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any insect of the genus {Forficula} and related genera, belonging to the order {Dermaptera} (formerly {Euplexoptera}). They… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Earwig — Ear wig ([=e]r w[i^]g ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Earwigged} ([=e]r w[i^]gd ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Earwigging} ([=e]r w[i^]g*g[i^]ng).] To influence, or attempt to influence, by whispered insinuations or private talk. No longer was he earwigged by the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
earwig — ear·wig (îr’wĭg′) n. ▸ Any of various elongate insects of the order Dermaptera, having a pair of usually pincerlike appendages protruding from the rear of the abdomen. Also called dermapteran. tr.v. ear·wigged, ear·wig·ging, ear·wigs ▸ To attempt … Word Histories
earwig — /ear wig /, n., v., earwigged, earwigging. n. 1. any of numerous elongate, nocturnal insects of the order Dermaptera, having a pair of large, movable pincers at the rear of the abdomen. v.t. 2. to fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations.… … Universalium
earwig — ear•wig [[t]ˈɪərˌwɪg[/t]] n. v. wigged, wig•ging 1) ent any of numerous dark and slender nocturnal insects of the order Dermaptera, having horny pincers at the rear that can rise up like a scorpion s 2) to fill the mind of with prejudice by… … From formal English to slang
earwig — ear|wig [ˈıəˌwıg US ˈır ] n [: Old English; Origin: earwicga ear insect ; because it used to be believed that these insects get into people s ears] a long brown insect with two curved pointed parts at the back end of its body … Dictionary of contemporary English
earwig — [ir′wig΄] n. [ME erwig < OE earwicga < eare, EAR1 + 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] any of an order… … English World dictionary
earwig — ear|wig [ ır,wıg ] noun count a brown insect with a pair of curved parts at the end of its body … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
earwig — ear·wig … English syllables
earwig — [OE] A colloquial Old English term for ‘insect’ was wicga (which would have been pronounced something like ‘widger’). It probably came from the same prehistoric Germanic base (*wig ) as produced English wiggle [13], and so is roughly equivalent… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
ear-wigging — n British a synonym for ear bashing , punning on the earwig insect and the 19th century colloquial use of wig to mean scold ► That didn t stop [David] Puttnam giving [Christopher] Patten a severe ear wigging from the green pulpit last week.… … Contemporary slang
