earwig (English)

Where does "earwig" come from?

The English word 'earwig' descends from the Middle English 'erwigge', which comes directly from the Old English 'ēarwicga'[1][3]. This Old English compound combined 'ēare', meaning 'ear', and 'wicga', meaning 'insect'[1]. The insect earned this name due to the appearance of its hindwings, which resemble human ears when unfolded[1]. These roots trace back through Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European forms meaning 'ear' and 'to move or wiggle'[2][4][7].

Full etymology tree

earwig (English), 'Any of various insects of the order Dermaptera that have elongated bodies, large membranous wings folded underneath short leathery forewings and a pair of large pincers protruding from the rear of the abdomen.'
- inherited erwigge (Middle English), 'earwig'
  - inherited earwicga (Old English), 'an earwig or worm'
    - compound eare (Old English), 'ear (organ of hearing)'
      - inherited *auʀā (Proto-West Germanic), 'ear'
        inherited *ausô (Proto-Germanic), 'ear'
        inherited *h₂ṓws (Proto-Indo-European), 'ear'
    - compound wicga (Old English), 'insect'
      - derived *weganą (Proto-Germanic), 'to move, to carry'
        inherited *wéǵʰeti (Proto-Indo-European), 'to be transporting'

Ancestors

erwigge (Middle English)
earwicga (Old English)
eare (Old English)
wicga (Old English)

Descendants and derived words

black earwig (English)
common brown earwig (English)
common earwig (English)
common European earwig (English)
earwigfly (English)
earwiggy (English)
maritime earwig (English)
ringlegged earwig (English)

Sources

Updated October 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris