See earwig on Wiktionary
Download JSON data for earwig meaning in All languages combined (19.7kB)
{
"derived": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "black earwig"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "common brown earwig"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "common earwig"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "common European earwig"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "maritime earwig"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "ringlegged earwig"
}
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "erwigge"
},
"expansion": "Middle English erwigge",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ang",
"3": "ēarwicga"
},
"expansion": "Old English ēarwicga",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "ang",
"2": "ēare",
"3": "wicga",
"nocat": "1",
"t1": "ear",
"t2": "insect"
},
"expansion": "ēare (“ear”) + wicga (“insect”)",
"name": "compound"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle English erwigge, from Old English ēarwicga, from ēare (“ear”) + wicga (“insect”), so named from a popular belief that they are able to penetrate a person's head through the ear.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "earwigs",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "earwig (plural earwigs)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"related": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "earworm"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "earpick"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "25 17 21 13 4 11 9",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "29 10 24 9 3 17 7",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with topic categories using raw markup",
"parents": [
"Entries with topic categories using raw markup",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "26 17 21 11 4 15 6",
"kind": "lifeform",
"langcode": "en",
"name": "Earwigs",
"orig": "en:Earwigs",
"parents": [
"Insects",
"Arthropods",
"Animals",
"Lifeforms",
"All topics",
"Life",
"Fundamental",
"Nature"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1856, L. S. Lavenu, chapter XVII, in Erlesmere; or, Contrasts of Character, volume 1, London: Smith, Elder & Co., page 171",
"text": "\"That's a fine young fellow,\" said the historiographer of earwigs, to an American who stood next him in the crowd.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2001, Jan Harold Brunvand, Encyclopedia of Urban Legends, page 128",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"text": "2002, Maurice Burton, Robert Burton, Nuthatch, entry in International Wildlife Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition, page 1762,\nNuthatches 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."
},
{
"text": "2008, John L. Capinera (editor), European Earwig, Forficula auricularia, Linnaeus (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), entry in Encyclopedia of Entomology, page 1370,\nAdults 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."
}
],
"glosses": [
"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."
],
"id": "en-earwig-en-noun-EUFlZYnK",
"links": [
[
"insect",
"insect"
],
[
"Dermaptera",
"Dermaptera#Translingual"
],
[
"abdomen",
"abdomen"
]
],
"synonyms": [
{
"_dis1": "91 5 5",
"sense": "insect of order Dermaptera",
"tags": [
"Geordie",
"dialectal"
],
"word": "forkytail"
},
{
"_dis1": "91 5 5",
"sense": "insect of order Dermaptera",
"word": "pincher bug"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "ʔabū miqaṣṣ",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "أَبُو مِقَصّ"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "aii",
"lang": "Assyrian Neo-Aramaic",
"roman": "qirṣō",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "ܩܸܪܨܘܿ"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "štipalka",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "щипалка"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "tisoreta"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine",
"plural"
],
"word": "papaorelles"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "chr",
"lang": "Cherokee",
"roman": "galenagi",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "ᎦᎴᎾᎩ"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "qúsōu",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "蠼螋"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "škvor"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "da",
"lang": "Danish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "ørentvist"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "oorworm"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "eo",
"lang": "Esperanto",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "forfikulo"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "et",
"lang": "Estonian",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "kõrvahark"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "gur",
"lang": "Farefare",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "baga"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "fo",
"lang": "Faroese",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "tvísterta"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "pihtihäntäinen"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "forficule"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "perce-oreille"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "cadela de frade"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "cadela faldrexa"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "rapacarallas"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "zormicadela"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "forcadela"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "ka",
"lang": "Georgian",
"roman": "q̇urbela",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "ყურბელა"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Ohrwurm"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Ohrenkriecher"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Ohrkneifer"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "fülbemászó"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "gailseach"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "forficula"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "鋏虫"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"alt": "はさみむし, ハサミムシ, hasamimushi",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "蠼螋"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "ko",
"lang": "Korean",
"roman": "jipgebeolle",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "집게벌레"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "lb",
"lang": "Luxembourgish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Ouereschlëffer"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "gv",
"lang": "Manx",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "gollage"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Maori",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "matā"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Maori",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "hiore kakati"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "erwig"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "erwigge"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "gmh",
"lang": "Middle High German",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "ôrenwützel"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "mn",
"lang": "Mongolian",
"roman": "čixüür xorxoj",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "чихүүр хорхой"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "mos",
"lang": "Moore",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "kara-nanga"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "mos",
"lang": "Moore",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "ka-nanga"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "nv",
"lang": "Navajo",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "jeeʼiighááh"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "nrf",
"lang": "Norman",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "pèrche-ouothelle"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "no",
"lang": "Norwegian",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "saksedyr"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "ang",
"lang": "Old English",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "ēarwiċġa"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "skorek"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "cęgosz"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "szczypawka"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "szczypawica"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "tesourinha"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "lacrainha"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "rap",
"lang": "Rapa Nui",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "garara"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "urechelniță"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "uxovjórtka",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "уховёртка"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "sco",
"lang": "Scots",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "hornie-gollach"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "fiolan-cluaise"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "sh",
"lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "uholaža"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "sh",
"lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "strižavka"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "sk",
"lang": "Slovak",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "ucholak"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "tijereta"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "tvestjärt"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "th",
"lang": "Thai",
"roman": "maeng-kaa-reuang",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "แมงคาเรือง"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "kulağakaçan"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "uk",
"lang": "Ukrainian",
"roman": "ščýpavka",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "щи́павка"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "uk",
"lang": "Ukrainian",
"roman": "vuxovértka",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "вухове́ртка"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "vi",
"lang": "Vietnamese",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "sâu tai"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "pryf clustiog"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "chwilen glust"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "pryf clust"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "pryf clustiau"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "pryfyn clust"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine",
"plural"
],
"word": "chwilod clust"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "fy",
"lang": "West Frisian",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "foarkestekker"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"code": "zu",
"lang": "Zulu",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "umkhothane"
}
]
},
{
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "25 17 21 13 4 11 9",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "29 10 24 9 3 17 7",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with topic categories using raw markup",
"parents": [
"Entries with topic categories using raw markup",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1633, John Ford, The Broken Heart",
"text": "That gawdy earwig, or my lord your patron, Whose pensioner you are.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"One who whispers insinuations; a secret counsellor."
],
"id": "en-earwig-en-noun-v93LKkOF",
"links": [
[
"insinuation",
"insinuation"
],
[
"secret",
"secret"
],
[
"counsellor",
"counsellor"
]
]
},
{
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "25 17 21 13 4 11 9",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "29 10 24 9 3 17 7",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with topic categories using raw markup",
"parents": [
"Entries with topic categories using raw markup",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A flatterer."
],
"id": "en-earwig-en-noun-QbiIh40p",
"links": [
[
"flatterer",
"flatterer"
]
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈɪə(ɹ)wɪɡ/"
},
{
"audio": "En-au-earwig.ogg",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/af/En-au-earwig.ogg/En-au-earwig.ogg.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/En-au-earwig.ogg",
"tags": [
"Australia"
],
"text": "Audio (AU)"
}
],
"word": "earwig"
}
{
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "erwigge"
},
"expansion": "Middle English erwigge",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ang",
"3": "ēarwicga"
},
"expansion": "Old English ēarwicga",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "ang",
"2": "ēare",
"3": "wicga",
"nocat": "1",
"t1": "ear",
"t2": "insect"
},
"expansion": "ēare (“ear”) + wicga (“insect”)",
"name": "compound"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle English erwigge, from Old English ēarwicga, from ēare (“ear”) + wicga (“insect”), so named from a popular belief that they are able to penetrate a person's head through the ear.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "earwigs",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "earwigging",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "earwigged",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "earwigged",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "++"
},
"expansion": "earwig (third-person singular simple present earwigs, present participle earwigging, simple past and past participle earwigged)",
"name": "en-verb"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "25 17 21 13 4 11 9",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations."
],
"id": "en-earwig-en-verb-UeIeya3j",
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "97 1 1 1",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "našepvam",
"sense": "To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations",
"word": "нашепвам"
}
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1831 November, Edward Lancaster, “Appearances”, in The Ladies′ Museum, page 202",
"text": "In the interim, rest assured that Mr. Atherstone is by no means your friend, for he was perpetually earwigging poor Sir Rowland.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1866 February 23, South Australian Parliament, Debates in the Houses of Legislature: September 29 1865-March 16 1866, page 1127",
"text": "The hon. gentleman Mr. Reynolds had expressed his fears that the Government would allow themselves to be earwigged out of the money.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk."
],
"id": "en-earwig-en-verb-InwxHp5k",
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
]
},
{
"categories": [
{
"kind": "other",
"name": "British English",
"parents": [],
"source": "w"
},
{
"_dis": "25 17 21 13 4 11 9",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "29 10 24 9 3 17 7",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with topic categories using raw markup",
"parents": [
"Entries with topic categories using raw markup",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "2007, Russell K. Lewis, In a Moment...: Book One of the Ley of the Land, page 381",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2007, Cat Rambo, Jeff VanderMeer, The Strange Case of the Lovecraft Café: The Surgeon′s Tale and Other Stories, page 89",
"text": "The nameless earwigging writer scrawled in his notebook that “MS and CT also considered that such low life would have a greater pride and satisfaction in life if they could themselves be cooked and served still bleating to rich diners.″",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2010, Charlie Cochrane, Lessons in Seduction, page 100",
"text": "This man turned up on the last train, wanting a room, and his name had been odd enough to stay in the children′s minds as they earwigged—not something you ever do, Jonty.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To eavesdrop."
],
"id": "en-earwig-en-verb-eFGZWJQb",
"links": [
[
"eavesdrop",
"eavesdrop"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(intransitive, UK, slang) To eavesdrop."
],
"tags": [
"UK",
"intransitive",
"slang"
]
},
{
"categories": [
{
"kind": "other",
"name": "British English",
"parents": [],
"source": "w"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "2017 December 1, Leo Lewis, “Eric Cantona on seagulls, fixing Man Utd and why you can't buy passion”, in Financial Times",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To eavesdrop on."
],
"id": "en-earwig-en-verb-vaIcMtgn",
"links": [
[
"eavesdrop",
"eavesdrop"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive, UK, slang) To eavesdrop on."
],
"tags": [
"UK",
"slang",
"transitive"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈɪə(ɹ)wɪɡ/"
},
{
"audio": "En-au-earwig.ogg",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/af/En-au-earwig.ogg/En-au-earwig.ogg.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/En-au-earwig.ogg",
"tags": [
"Australia"
],
"text": "Audio (AU)"
}
],
"word": "earwig"
}
{
"categories": [
"English 2-syllable words",
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English entries with topic categories using raw markup",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Old English",
"English terms inherited from Middle English",
"English terms inherited from Old English",
"English terms with IPA pronunciation",
"English terms with audio links",
"English verbs",
"en:Earwigs"
],
"derived": [
{
"word": "black earwig"
},
{
"word": "common brown earwig"
},
{
"word": "common earwig"
},
{
"word": "common European earwig"
},
{
"word": "maritime earwig"
},
{
"word": "ringlegged earwig"
}
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "erwigge"
},
"expansion": "Middle English erwigge",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ang",
"3": "ēarwicga"
},
"expansion": "Old English ēarwicga",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "ang",
"2": "ēare",
"3": "wicga",
"nocat": "1",
"t1": "ear",
"t2": "insect"
},
"expansion": "ēare (“ear”) + wicga (“insect”)",
"name": "compound"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle English erwigge, from Old English ēarwicga, from ēare (“ear”) + wicga (“insect”), so named from a popular belief that they are able to penetrate a person's head through the ear.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "earwigs",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "earwig (plural earwigs)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"related": [
{
"word": "earworm"
},
{
"word": "earpick"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"Quotation templates to be cleaned"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1856, L. S. Lavenu, chapter XVII, in Erlesmere; or, Contrasts of Character, volume 1, London: Smith, Elder & Co., page 171",
"text": "\"That's a fine young fellow,\" said the historiographer of earwigs, to an American who stood next him in the crowd.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2001, Jan Harold Brunvand, Encyclopedia of Urban Legends, page 128",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"text": "2002, Maurice Burton, Robert Burton, Nuthatch, entry in International Wildlife Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition, page 1762,\nNuthatches 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."
},
{
"text": "2008, John L. Capinera (editor), European Earwig, Forficula auricularia, Linnaeus (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), entry in Encyclopedia of Entomology, page 1370,\nAdults 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."
}
],
"glosses": [
"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."
],
"links": [
[
"insect",
"insect"
],
[
"Dermaptera",
"Dermaptera#Translingual"
],
[
"abdomen",
"abdomen"
]
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1633, John Ford, The Broken Heart",
"text": "That gawdy earwig, or my lord your patron, Whose pensioner you are.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"One who whispers insinuations; a secret counsellor."
],
"links": [
[
"insinuation",
"insinuation"
],
[
"secret",
"secret"
],
[
"counsellor",
"counsellor"
]
]
},
{
"glosses": [
"A flatterer."
],
"links": [
[
"flatterer",
"flatterer"
]
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈɪə(ɹ)wɪɡ/"
},
{
"audio": "En-au-earwig.ogg",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/af/En-au-earwig.ogg/En-au-earwig.ogg.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/En-au-earwig.ogg",
"tags": [
"Australia"
],
"text": "Audio (AU)"
}
],
"synonyms": [
{
"sense": "insect of order Dermaptera",
"tags": [
"Geordie",
"dialectal"
],
"word": "forkytail"
},
{
"sense": "insect of order Dermaptera",
"word": "pincher bug"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "ʔabū miqaṣṣ",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "أَبُو مِقَصّ"
},
{
"code": "aii",
"lang": "Assyrian Neo-Aramaic",
"roman": "qirṣō",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "ܩܸܪܨܘܿ"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "štipalka",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "щипалка"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "tisoreta"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine",
"plural"
],
"word": "papaorelles"
},
{
"code": "chr",
"lang": "Cherokee",
"roman": "galenagi",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "ᎦᎴᎾᎩ"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "qúsōu",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "蠼螋"
},
{
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "škvor"
},
{
"code": "da",
"lang": "Danish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "ørentvist"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "oorworm"
},
{
"code": "eo",
"lang": "Esperanto",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "forfikulo"
},
{
"code": "et",
"lang": "Estonian",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "kõrvahark"
},
{
"code": "gur",
"lang": "Farefare",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "baga"
},
{
"code": "fo",
"lang": "Faroese",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "tvísterta"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "pihtihäntäinen"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "forficule"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "perce-oreille"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "cadela de frade"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "cadela faldrexa"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "rapacarallas"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "zormicadela"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "forcadela"
},
{
"code": "ka",
"lang": "Georgian",
"roman": "q̇urbela",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "ყურბელა"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Ohrwurm"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Ohrenkriecher"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Ohrkneifer"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "fülbemászó"
},
{
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "gailseach"
},
{
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "forficula"
},
{
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "鋏虫"
},
{
"alt": "はさみむし, ハサミムシ, hasamimushi",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "蠼螋"
},
{
"code": "ko",
"lang": "Korean",
"roman": "jipgebeolle",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "집게벌레"
},
{
"code": "lb",
"lang": "Luxembourgish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Ouereschlëffer"
},
{
"code": "gv",
"lang": "Manx",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "gollage"
},
{
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Maori",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "matā"
},
{
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Maori",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "hiore kakati"
},
{
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "erwig"
},
{
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "erwigge"
},
{
"code": "gmh",
"lang": "Middle High German",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "ôrenwützel"
},
{
"code": "mn",
"lang": "Mongolian",
"roman": "čixüür xorxoj",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "чихүүр хорхой"
},
{
"code": "mos",
"lang": "Moore",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "kara-nanga"
},
{
"code": "mos",
"lang": "Moore",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "ka-nanga"
},
{
"code": "nv",
"lang": "Navajo",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "jeeʼiighááh"
},
{
"code": "nrf",
"lang": "Norman",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "pèrche-ouothelle"
},
{
"code": "no",
"lang": "Norwegian",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "saksedyr"
},
{
"code": "ang",
"lang": "Old English",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "ēarwiċġa"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "skorek"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "cęgosz"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "szczypawka"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "szczypawica"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "tesourinha"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "lacrainha"
},
{
"code": "rap",
"lang": "Rapa Nui",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "garara"
},
{
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "urechelniță"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "uxovjórtka",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "уховёртка"
},
{
"code": "sco",
"lang": "Scots",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "hornie-gollach"
},
{
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "fiolan-cluaise"
},
{
"code": "sh",
"lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "uholaža"
},
{
"code": "sh",
"lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "strižavka"
},
{
"code": "sk",
"lang": "Slovak",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "ucholak"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "tijereta"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "tvestjärt"
},
{
"code": "th",
"lang": "Thai",
"roman": "maeng-kaa-reuang",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "แมงคาเรือง"
},
{
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "kulağakaçan"
},
{
"code": "uk",
"lang": "Ukrainian",
"roman": "ščýpavka",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "щи́павка"
},
{
"code": "uk",
"lang": "Ukrainian",
"roman": "vuxovértka",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "вухове́ртка"
},
{
"code": "vi",
"lang": "Vietnamese",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "sâu tai"
},
{
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "pryf clustiog"
},
{
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "chwilen glust"
},
{
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "pryf clust"
},
{
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "pryf clustiau"
},
{
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "pryfyn clust"
},
{
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "the insect",
"tags": [
"feminine",
"plural"
],
"word": "chwilod clust"
},
{
"code": "fy",
"lang": "West Frisian",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "foarkestekker"
},
{
"code": "zu",
"lang": "Zulu",
"sense": "the insect",
"word": "umkhothane"
}
],
"word": "earwig"
}
{
"categories": [
"English 2-syllable words",
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English entries with topic categories using raw markup",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Old English",
"English terms inherited from Middle English",
"English terms inherited from Old English",
"English terms with IPA pronunciation",
"English terms with audio links",
"English verbs",
"en:Earwigs"
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "erwigge"
},
"expansion": "Middle English erwigge",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ang",
"3": "ēarwicga"
},
"expansion": "Old English ēarwicga",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "ang",
"2": "ēare",
"3": "wicga",
"nocat": "1",
"t1": "ear",
"t2": "insect"
},
"expansion": "ēare (“ear”) + wicga (“insect”)",
"name": "compound"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle English erwigge, from Old English ēarwicga, from ēare (“ear”) + wicga (“insect”), so named from a popular belief that they are able to penetrate a person's head through the ear.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "earwigs",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "earwigging",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "earwigged",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "earwigged",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "++"
},
"expansion": "earwig (third-person singular simple present earwigs, present participle earwigging, simple past and past participle earwigged)",
"name": "en-verb"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English transitive verbs"
],
"glosses": [
"To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations."
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"English transitive verbs",
"Quotation templates to be cleaned"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1831 November, Edward Lancaster, “Appearances”, in The Ladies′ Museum, page 202",
"text": "In the interim, rest assured that Mr. Atherstone is by no means your friend, for he was perpetually earwigging poor Sir Rowland.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1866 February 23, South Australian Parliament, Debates in the Houses of Legislature: September 29 1865-March 16 1866, page 1127",
"text": "The hon. gentleman Mr. Reynolds had expressed his fears that the Government would allow themselves to be earwigged out of the money.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk."
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"British English",
"English intransitive verbs",
"English slang",
"English terms with quotations",
"Quotation templates to be cleaned"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "2007, Russell K. Lewis, In a Moment...: Book One of the Ley of the Land, page 381",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2007, Cat Rambo, Jeff VanderMeer, The Strange Case of the Lovecraft Café: The Surgeon′s Tale and Other Stories, page 89",
"text": "The nameless earwigging writer scrawled in his notebook that “MS and CT also considered that such low life would have a greater pride and satisfaction in life if they could themselves be cooked and served still bleating to rich diners.″",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2010, Charlie Cochrane, Lessons in Seduction, page 100",
"text": "This man turned up on the last train, wanting a room, and his name had been odd enough to stay in the children′s minds as they earwigged—not something you ever do, Jonty.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To eavesdrop."
],
"links": [
[
"eavesdrop",
"eavesdrop"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(intransitive, UK, slang) To eavesdrop."
],
"tags": [
"UK",
"intransitive",
"slang"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"British English",
"English slang",
"English terms with quotations",
"English transitive verbs"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "2017 December 1, Leo Lewis, “Eric Cantona on seagulls, fixing Man Utd and why you can't buy passion”, in Financial Times",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To eavesdrop on."
],
"links": [
[
"eavesdrop",
"eavesdrop"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive, UK, slang) To eavesdrop on."
],
"tags": [
"UK",
"slang",
"transitive"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈɪə(ɹ)wɪɡ/"
},
{
"audio": "En-au-earwig.ogg",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/af/En-au-earwig.ogg/En-au-earwig.ogg.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/En-au-earwig.ogg",
"tags": [
"Australia"
],
"text": "Audio (AU)"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "našepvam",
"sense": "To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations",
"word": "нашепвам"
}
],
"word": "earwig"
}
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.