See Also: earwig(medicine)
earwig(dictionary)
earwig(encyclopedia)
earwig(dictionary)

earwig (iou)



earwig noun & verb.
[Old English earwicga, from eare EAR noun1 + wicga earwig, prob. rel. to WIGGLE verb: the insect was formerly believed to crawl into the human ear.]
A. noun.
An insect of the order Dermaptera, esp. the common Forficula auricularia, characterized by an elongated, flattened body with large terminal forceps. OE.
b. A small centipede. US. L19.
A whisperer; a flatterer; an insincere follower. LME-L18.
b. verb trans. Infl. -gg-. Pester with private importunities; influence by secret communications. arch. M19.