n.
a small elongated insect with a pair of terminal appendages that resemble pincers.
[Order Dermaptera: many species.]
v.
(earwigs, earwigging, earwigged)
Brit. informal eavesdrop.
Etymology
OE ēarwicga, from ēare ‘ear’ + wicga ‘earwig’ (prob. rel. to wiggle); the insect was once thought to crawl into the human ear.
