earwig

ear·wig (îr

)

Any of various elongate insects of the order Dermaptera, having a pair of pincerlike appendages protruding from the rear of the abdomen.

tr.v. ear·wigged, ear·wig·ging, ear·wigs

To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk.

[Middle English erwig, from Old English arwicga : are, ear; see ear¹ + wicga, insect; see wegh- in Indo-European roots.]

earwig [ˈɪəˌwɪg]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of various insects of the order Dermaptera, esp Forficula auricularia (common European earwig), which typically have an elongated body with small leathery forewings, semicircular membranous hindwings, and curved forceps at the tip of the abdomen

vb -wigs, -wigging, -wigged

1. Informal to eavesdrop

2. (tr) Archaic to attempt to influence (a person) by private insinuation

[Old English ēarwicga, from ēare ear¹ + wicga beetle, insect; probably from a superstition that the insect crept into human ears]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun

earwig - 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

insect - small air-breathing arthropod

Dermaptera, order Dermaptera - earwigs and a few related forms

common European earwig, Forficula auricularia - sometimes destructive to cultivated bulbs

Translations

earwig [ˈɪəwɪg] N → tijereta f

earwig [ˈɪə^rwɪg] n → perce-oreille m

earwig [ˈɪəˌwɪg] n (insect) → forbicina

earwig

n earwig [ˈiəwig]

a kind of insect with pincers at the end of its body. oorkruiper دُويبَة أبو مَقَص щипалка škvor ørentvist der Ohrwurm ψαλίδα (το έντομο) tijereta kõrvahark گوشخزک isopihtihäntä perce-oreille חָרַק קָטַן एक तरह का कीड़ा uholaža fülbemászó (bogár) kumbang klaufhali, eyrnapadda forbicina はさみ虫 집게벌레 auslinda spīļaste lelawi oorworm saksedyr szczypawka bicha-cadela urechelniţă уховёртка ucholak strigalica uholaža tvestjärt แมลงตัวยาวที่หากินในเวลากลางคืนมีส่วนที่คล้ายคีมขนาดใหญ่ kulağakaçan böceği 蠼螋，地蜈蚣 щипавка کوئی لمبوترا حشرہ جس کا سرا چمٹے کی طرح دوشاخہ ہوتا ہے con sâu tai 蠖螋

Mentioned in	?		References in classic literature	?		Dictionary browser	?		Full browser	?
clipshears common European earwig Dermaptera dermapteran Dermoptera Dermopteran Ear-piercer earworm eavesdrop Euplexoptera family Forficulidae family Geophilidae forfex Forficula Forficula auricularia Forficulidae genus Forficula genus Geophilus Geophilidae	Earwig had a wash at home, and one of her children had fallen into the hot copper, for which reason she was running so fast to fetch the doctor. The Mill on the Floss by Eliot, George View in context There was an inhospitable smell in the room, of cold soot and hot dust; and, as I looked up into the corners of the tester over my head, I thought what a number of blue-bottle flies from the butchers', and earwigs from the market, and grubs from the country, must be holding on up there, lying by for next summer. Great Expectations by Dickens, Charles View in context They sat on a bench, and he had really made up his mind that here was his opportunity when Miss Wilkinson said she was sure there were earwigs and insisted on moving. Of Human Bondage by Maugham, W. Somerset View in context	earthmover earthnut earthnut pea Earthpea earthquake Earthquake alarm earthquake engineer Earthquakes Earthquave earthrise Earthshaker earthshaking earthshattering earthshine Earthshock earthstar earthtongue earthward earthward(s) earthwards earthwork earthworks earthworm earthy earwax earwig earwigging earwitness earworm EAS ease ease off ease off or up ease up eased easeful easel Easel picture Easeless easement easily easiness easing east East Africa East African east African cedar East African Community East Anglia East Anglian East Asia	Earthworm Jim Earthworm organic cycle Earthworm organic cycle Earthworm organic cycle Earthworm Research Group Earthworms Earthworms Earthworms earthy earthy earthy earthy cobalt earthy manganese EARTO EARTOF EARTS EARU Earvin Johnson Jr. Earvin Johnson, Jr. earwax earwax earwax Earwax impaction Earwax impaction Earwax impaction earwax remover earwax remover earwax remover EARWG earwick earwig earwigged earwigged earwigging earwigging earwigs earwigs earwitness earwitness earwitnesses earwitnesses Earwolf earworm earworm Earworms Earworms EARY EARYN EAS EAS EAS EAS CL EAS III EAS PL EAS Tag EAS Tag EAS-SG EASA EASAC EASAE EASAP

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clipshears
common European earwig
Dermaptera
dermapteran
Dermoptera
Dermopteran
Ear-piercer
earworm
eavesdrop
Euplexoptera
family Forficulidae
family Geophilidae
forfex
Forficula
Forficula auricularia
Forficulidae
genus Forficula
genus Geophilus
Geophilidae

Earwig had a wash at home, and one of her children had fallen into the hot copper, for which reason she was running so fast to fetch the doctor.

The Mill on the Floss by Eliot, George View in context

There was an inhospitable smell in the room, of cold soot and hot dust; and, as I looked up into the corners of the tester over my head, I thought what a number of blue-bottle flies from the butchers', and earwigs from the market, and grubs from the country, must be holding on up there, lying by for next summer.

Great Expectations by Dickens, Charles View in context

They sat on a bench, and he had really made up his mind that here was his opportunity when Miss Wilkinson said she was sure there were earwigs and insisted on moving.

Of Human Bondage by Maugham, W. Somerset View in context

earwig playV2('en/US/ds/dsdddhsfsrd3d7h7');playV2('en/UK/ds/dsdddhsfsrd3d7h7')

earwig