Chiggers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Tiny, parasitic mites that inhabit grassy and wooded areas and feed on the blood of mammals, causing intense itching and skin irritation
2. Small, larval stage of certain mites that can infest humans and animals, leading to painful bites and allergic reactions
3. Minute arachnids found in warm climates that can cause dermatitis through their bites, often resulting in swelling and discomfort

Etymology: "Chiggers" is the plural of "chigger," the name for the tiny mite larvae whose bites cause intense itching. The singular goes back to "chigoe," a word likely borrowed from a Cariban language of the Caribbean, where a Kari'na term "siko" named a burrowing flea. The name was later applied to the mites, probably because they bite in a similarly stinging way.