midge
(noun) minute two-winged mosquito-like fly lacking biting mouthparts; appear in dancing swarms especially near water
Source: WordNet® 3.1
midge (plural midges)
any of various small two-winged flies, for example, from the family Chironomidae or non-biting midges, the family Chaoboridae or phantom midges, and the family Ceratopogonidae or biting midges, all belonging to the order Diptera
(fishing) any bait or lure designed to resemble a midge
Midge
A female given name, of rare usage, variant of Madge.
Source: Wiktionary
Midge, n. Etym: [OE. migge, AS. mycge; akin to OS. muggia, D. mug, G. mĆ¼cke, OHG. mucca, Icel. m, Sw. mygga, mygg, Dan. myg; perh. named from its buzzing; cf. Gr. (Zoƶl.)
1. Any one of many small, delicate, long-legged flies of the Chironomus, and allied genera, which do not bite. Their larvƦ are usually aquatic.
2. A very small fly, abundant in many parts of the United States and Canada, noted for the irritating quality of its bite.
Note: The name is also applied to various other small flies. See Wheat midge, under Wheat.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
22 February 2025
(noun) the use of closed-class words instead of inflections: e.g., āthe father of the brideā instead of āthe brideās fatherā
Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be ādancingā after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. Thatās how the first coffee drink was born.
