different between midge vs gnat

English

Etymology

From Middle English mydge, migge, from Old English mygg, my?? (“midge, gnat”), from Proto-West Germanic *muggju, from Proto-Germanic *mugj?, from Proto-Indo-European *m?- (“fly, midge”), *mu-, *mew-.

Pronunciation

• enPR: m?j, IPA^(key): /m?d?/
• Rhymes: -?d?

Noun

midge (plural midges)

1. any of various small two-winged flies, for example, from the family Chironomidae or non-biting midges, the family Chaoboridae or phantom midges, and the family Ceratopogonidae or biting midges, all belonging to the order Diptera
2. (fishing) any bait or lure designed to resemble a midge

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• gnat

English

Etymology

From Middle English gnat, from Old English gnætt (“gnat; midge; mosquito”), from Proto-Germanic *gnattaz, *gnattuz (“gnat”), from Proto-Indo-European *g?neHd?n-, *g?neHd- (“to gnaw; scratch”), from Proto-Indo-European *g?en- (“to gnaw; bite; scratch; grind”). Cognate with Low German Gnatte (“gnat”), dialectal Swedish gnatt (“mote; particle; atom”), German Gnatz (“scabs; rash; scabies; stinginess”). Related also gnit and gnaw.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /næt/
• Rhymes: -æt

Noun

gnat (plural gnats)

1. Any small insect of the order Diptera, specifically within the suborder Nematocera.

Related terms

• gnit

Derived terms

• gnat's
• gnat's arse, gnat's ass
• gnat bug
• gnatcatcher
• gnat's chuff
• gnateater
• gnat's prick
• gnat's whisker

Translations

See also

• midge

Anagrams

• Gant, T'ang, Tang, tang

Middle English

Alternative forms

• gnatte, knat, knatte, gnet

Etymology

From Old English gnætt, from Proto-Germanic *gnattaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?nat/, /?n?t/

Noun

gnat (plural gnattes)

1. A gnat or similar insect.
2. Something of little worth or importance.

Descendants

• English: gnat
• Scots: gnat

References

• “gnat, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-10-17.

Polish

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *gnat?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?nat/

Noun

gnat m anim

1. (colloquial) large bone
2. (slang) gun

Declension

Further reading

• gnat in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• gnat in Polish dictionaries at PWN