Pismire
/ˈpɪsmaɪə(ɹ)/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An ant. Ireland, UK, archaic
"Why looke you, I am whipt and ſcourg'd with rods, Netled, and ſtung with piſmires, when I heare Of this vile polititian, Bullingbrooke,"
- 2 social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers wordnet
Example
More examples"Why looke you, I am whipt and ſcourg'd with rods, Netled, and ſtung with piſmires, when I heare Of this vile polititian, Bullingbrooke,"
Etymology
From Middle English pissemyre, equivalent to piss + mire (“ant”). So called due to the smell of anthills. Compare English pissant, Old Frisian pisimme, Dutch pismiere, Swedish pissmyra.