different between ants vs earwig

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ænts/
• Rhymes: -ænts

Noun

ants

1. plural of ant

Verb

ants

1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of ant

Anagrams

• -stan, -stan-, ASNT, NTAs, Nast, Nats, Sant, Stan, Tans, Tsan, nats, stan, stan', tans

Catalan

Noun

ants

1. plural of ant

Tzeltal

Noun

ants (plural antsetik)

1. woman

See also

• winik

References

• Roberto Santiz Gómez (2010) Raíces posicionales en Tseltal de Oxchuc, p. 22. (retrieved 10th March 2016)

Tzotzil

Alternative forms

• 'antz, 7antz

Pronunciation

• (Zinacantán) IPA^(key): /?änt?s?/

Noun

ants (plural antsetik)

1. woman

Antonyms

• vinik

References

• “?an¢” in Laughlin, Robert M. (1975) The Great Tzotzil Dictionary of San Lorenzo Zinacantán. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press.
• Jorge A. Suárez, The Mesoamerican Indian Languages (1983)

English

Etymology

From Middle English erwigge, from Old English ?arwicga.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???(?)w??/

Noun

earwig (plural earwigs)

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.
   • 2002, Maurice Burton, Robert Burton, Nuthatch, entry in International Wildlife Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition, page 1762,

     Nuthatches 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.

   • 2008, John L. Capinera (editor), European Earwig, Forficula auricularia, Linnaeus (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), entry in Encyclopedia of Entomology, page 1370,

     Adults 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.

2. One who whispers insinuations; a secret counsellor.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Johnson to this entry?)

3. A flatterer.

Synonyms

• (insect of order Dermaptera): forkytail (dialectal, Geordie), pincher bug

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• earworm
• earpick

Verb

earwig (third-person singular simple present earwigs, present participle earwigging, simple past and past participle earwigged)

1. (transitive) To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations.
2. (transitive) To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk.
   • 1831 November, Edward Lancaster, Appearances, The Ladies? Museum, page 202,

     In the interim, rest assured that Mr. Atherstone is by no means your friend, for he was perpetually earwigging poor Sir Rowland.

   • 1866 February 23, South Australian Parliament, Debates in the Houses of Legislature: September 29 1865—March 16 1866, page 1127,

     The hon. gentleman Mr. Reynolds had expressed his fears that the Government would allow themselves to be earwigged out of the money.

3. (intransitive, Britain, slang) To eavesdrop.
   • 2007, Cat Rambo, Jeff VanderMeer, The Strange Case of the Lovecraft Café, The Surgeon?s Tale and Other Stories, page 89,

     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.?
4. (transitive, Britain, slang) To eavesdrop on.

Translations