noun ·sg & ·pl an animal, in general.
2. vermin ·noun ·sg & ·pl hence, in contempt, noxious human beings.
3. vermin ·noun ·sg & ·pl a noxious or mischievous animal; especially, noxious little animals or insects, collectively, as squirrels, rats, mice, flies, lice, bugs, ·etc.