■ noun a small elongated insect with a pair of terminal appendages that resemble pincers. [Order Dermaptera: many species.]
■ verb ( ~s , ~ging , ~ged ) Brit. informal eavesdrop.
Origin
OE ēarwicga , from ēare 'ear' + wicga '~' (prob. related to wiggle ); the insect was once thought to crawl into the human ear.