General
varmint
What does varmint mean?
A nuisance creature—raccoon, possum, coyote, or the like; sometimes applied to a disagreeable person.
"Some varmint's been getting into the henhouse."
Origin
A dialectal variant of "vermin," with an intrusive -t; common in rural Southern and Western speech.
Frequently asked questions
What does varmint mean?
A pest or troublesome wild animal such as a raccoon, possum, or coyote; it can also mean a disagreeable person.
Where does the word varmint come from?
It's a dialectal variant of "vermin" with an added -t, common in rural Southern and Western speech.
Is varmint a rude word?
When aimed at a person it's a mild insult, but for animals it's just an informal term for a pest.
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