Midge
/mɪdʒ/noun
A small, delicate two-winged fly, often found near water.
Did you know?The word has deep Germanic roots and has stayed so stable that its sound still feels like the tiny buzzing creature it names.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mu- / *meu-
“An imitative base associated with murmuring or buzzing sounds”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*mugjō-
“A small gnat or midge”
Old English
English
mycg
“A midge, gnat, or small biting fly”
Middle English
English
mige / migge
“A small gnat or biting fly”
Modern English
English
midge
“A tiny fly, especially one that swarms in damp places”