Formication
/ˌfɔːr.mɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/noun
A tingling or creeping sensation on the skin, especially one like insects crawling.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin formica, meaning “ant,” because the sensation feels like tiny creatures crawling under the skin.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
formica
“ant”
17th Century
English
formication
“a creeping or crawling sensation, especially on the skin”
Modern English
English
formication
“a tingling sensation felt as if insects were crawling on or under the skin”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*morwi-
“ant”