COCKROACH

cockroach, roach

(noun) any of numerous chiefly nocturnal insects; some are domestic pests

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

cockroach (plural cockroaches)

A black or brown straight-winged insect of the order Blattodea.

Synonym: roach (US)

(slang, offensive) A person or a member of a group of people regarded as undesirable and rapidly procreating.

(offensive, slang, ethnic slur, Rwanda) A Tutsi.

Source: Wiktionary


Cock"roach, n. Etym: [Sp. cucaracha.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: An orthopterus insect of the genus Blatta, and allied genera.

Note: The species are numerous, especially in hot countries. Those most commonly infesting houses in Europe and North America are Blatta orientalis, a large species often called black beetle, and the Croton bug (Ectobia Germanica).

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

3 April 2025

WHOLE

(noun) an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity; “how big is that part compared to the whole?”; “the team is a unit”


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Coffee Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.

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