Caddis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small aquatic insect related to moths, notable for its larvae that construct protective cases from debris; a type of finger hole on a fishing rod; a river fly used as bait in fly fishing
2. An insect with aquatic larvae that build portable cases from natural materials; a component on fishing rods involving finger placement; a common fly pattern employed in fishing to mimic aquatic insects
3. A freshwater insect whose larvae create shelters from sand or plant matter; a finger grip area on fishing equipment; a popular lure in fly fishing representing underwater larvae

Etymology: The insect's name has a surprisingly murky past. English speakers have long used "caddis" for the caddisfly, but its roots run back to a Mediterranean word, not to anything in English. The noun passed from Old Catalan "cadirs" or "cadins" into Old Occitan as "cadaz," then into Old French as "cadaz" and later Middle French as "cadis." Along the way it picked up a sense of coarse woollen cloth, the kind of material used for ribbons and braids, which may connect to the insect's silk-wrapped cases, though the exact link is not clear. The word's older dialect forms in English, such as "caddew," "caddy," and "cad-bait," show how anglers and country folk bent it to their own speech. "Cad-bait" in particular names the grubs themselves, which were prized as bait for fish. Where the English noun's earlier origin lies remains unknown, so the chain of borrowing is the firmest thread available.

Synonyms: caddisfly