noun
midge
mihj
noun
1
A tiny, gnat-like flying insect, some species of which bite.
"We were eaten alive by midges on our walk near the loch."
"Midges swarm near water, especially at dusk in summer."
How to Use Midge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA very small flying insect, similar to a gnat, that often bites and swarms in large numbers.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "midget," which developed later as a diminutive of "midge" in its old figurative sense of a small person, but is now considered offensive when used of people.
Common pairings
swarm of midges
midge bites
midge repellent
Word Forms
midges plural
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Etymology
From Old English mycg, a very old Germanic word for the small biting insect, closely related to words like Dutch mug and German Mücke.