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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



665 words match “INSECT”

CREEPINESS n.
An uneasy sensation as of insects creeping on the skin. She felt a curious, uneasy creepiness. Mrs. Alexander.
CREEPY a.
Crawly; having or producing a sensation like that caused by insects creeping on the skin. [Colloq.] One's whole blood grew curdling and creepy. R. Browning.
CREMASTER n.
The apex of the last abdominal segment of an insect.
CREPUSCULAR; CREPUSCULOUS a.
Flying in the twilight or evening, or before sunrise; -- said certain birds and insects. Others feed only in the twilight, as bats and owls, and are called crepuscular. Whewell.
CRICKET n.
An orthopterous insect of the genus Gryllus, and allied genera. The males make chirping, musical notes by rubbing together the basal parts of the veins of the front wings.
CROCODILE n.
an African plover (Pluvianus ægypticus) which alights upon the crocodile and devours its insect parasites, even entering its open mouth (according to reliable writers) in pursuit of files, etc.; -- called also Nile bird. It is the trochilos of ancient writers. -- Crocodile tears, false or affected tears; hypocritical…
CUCULLATE; CUCULLATED a.
ng the prothorax elevated so as to form a sort of hood, receiving the head, as in certain insects.
CULEX n.
A genus of dipterous insects, including the gnat and mosquito.
CULICID a.
A culicid insect.
CURRANT n.
rong, symmetrical bush and a very large berry. -- Currant borer (Zoöl.), the larva of an insect that bores into the pith and kills currant bushes; specif., the larvae of a small clearwing moth (Ægeria tipuliformis) and a longicorn beetle (Psenocerus supernotatus). -- Currant worm (Zoöl.), an insect larva which eats t…
CYPHONISM n.
he ancients, consisting in the besmearing of the criminal with honey, and exposing him to insects. It is still in use among some Oriental nations.
DACTYL n.
The claw or terminal joint of a leg of an insect or crustacean.
DACTYLAR a.
Of or pertaining to a finger or toe, or to the claw of an insect crustacean.
DADDY LONGLEGS n.
A name applied to many species of dipterous insects of the genus Tipula, and allied genera, with slender bodies, and very long, slender legs; the crane fly; -- called also father longlegs.
DARLINGTONIA n.
ingle species. The long tubular leaves are hooded at the top, and frequently contain many insects drowned in the secretion of the leaves.
DAYFLY n.
A neuropterous insect of the genus Ephemera and related genera, of many species, and inhabiting fresh water in the larval state; the ephemeral fly; -- so called because it commonly lives but one day in the winged or adult state. See Ephemeral fly, under Ephemeral.
DEATHWATCH n.
A small wingless insect, of the family Psocidæ, which makes a similar but fainter sound; -- called also deathtick. She is always seeing apparitions and hearing deathwatches. Addison. I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the deathwatch beat. Tennyson.
DENTIROSTRAL a.
-- applied to a group of passerine birds, having the bill notched, and feeding chiefly on insects, as the shrikes and vireos. See Illust. (N) under Beak.
DERMESTES n.
A genus of coleopterous insects, the larvæ of which feed animal substances. They are very destructive to dries meats, skins, woolens, and furs. The most common species is D. lardarius, known as the bacon beetle.
DERMOPTERA n.
The division of insects which includes the earwigs (Forticulidæ).
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