Earwigs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of small insect characterized by its elongated body and pincers at the rear, often found in dark, damp environments
2. An arthropod belonging to the order Dermaptera, known for its distinctive cerci that resemble pincers and its nocturnal habits
3. A common name for a group of wingless insects that primarily feed on decaying matter and sometimes other insects, noted for their peculiar appearance and behavior

Etymology: Earwigs get their name from a wing shape that no other insect seems to share. Old English speakers called the creature "ēarwicga", combining "ēare" (ear) with "wicga" (insect). The name refers to the hindwings, which, when unfolded, look strikingly like human ears. The insect's tucked-away wings are a fan of thin membrane that opens into a rounded, ear-like shape. The same comparison appears across many languages, and the translations often reveal the same image. Dutch speakers call the insect "oorworm" (ear worm), German "Ohrwurm", and Danish "ørentvist" (ear twister). French calls it "perce-oreille", meaning "ear-piercer", a folk notion that the insect crawls into sleeping heads, which is a myth with no basis in fact. Russian "уховёртка" (uxovjórtka) carries a similar idea of twisting into the ear.