Moucheron
/ˌmuːʃəˈrɒn/noun
A small fly or gnat, especially a biting one.
Did you know?French *moucheron* is a diminutive of *mouche* (“fly”), ultimately from a Latin root tied to flies and buzzing insects, showing how even the smallest pest can carry a long linguistic afterlife.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
musca
“a fly”
Old French
Old French
mouche
“a fly”
Middle French
Middle French
moucheron
“a small fly; a gnat”
Modern English
English
moucheron
“a small fly or gnat, especially a biting one”