maggot
2 synonyms for maggot, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The soft, legless larva of a fly, often found in decaying matter.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use maggot
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a tub of maggots
crawling with maggots
Etymology
From Middle English magot, probably an altered form of an Old English word related to insect larvae; the old folk belief that whimsical or eccentric people had "maggots in the brain" gave rise to a now-obsolete figurative sense.
Full origin of maggot →Frequently asked questions
What does “maggot” mean?
The word “maggot” means the soft, legless larva of a fly, often found in decaying matter. In plain terms, a fly larva, commonly seen in rotting food or used as fishing bait.
How do you pronounce “maggot”?
“Maggot” is pronounced MA-guht (/ˈmæɡət/ in IPA).
How do you use “maggot” in a sentence?
Here is “maggot” used in a sentence: “Anglers keep a tub of maggots as fishing bait.”
What part of speech is “maggot”?
“Maggot” is a noun.
Where does the word “maggot” come from?
The word “maggot” comes from Old English.
