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Earwig
Definitions
- 1 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.
""That's a fine young fellow," said the historiographer of earwigs, to an American who stood next him in the crowd."
- 2 any of numerous insects of the order Dermaptera having elongate bodies and slender many-jointed antennae and a pair of large pincers at the rear of the abdomen wordnet
- 3 One who whispers insinuations; a secret counsellor.
"That gawdy earwig, or my lord your patron, Whose pensioner you are."
- 4 A flatterer.
- 1 To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations. transitive
- 2 To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk. transitive
"In the interim, rest assured that Mr. Atherstone is by no means your friend, for he was perpetually earwigging poor Sir Rowland."
- 3 To eavesdrop. UK, intransitive, slang
"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."
- 4 To eavesdrop on. UK, slang, transitive
"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."
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.
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.
See also for "earwig"
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