vermin
UK /ˈvɜːmɪn/ · US /ˈvɝmɪn/ noun
Forms vermins varmin
- noun Any of various common types of small insects or other animals which cause harm and annoyance. “The area was crawling with all sorts of vermin: fleas, lice, mice, and rats to name a few. Thus, we felt as if vermin were crawling over us.”
- noun An animal that preys on game, such as a fox or a weasel.
- noun An obnoxious or mean and offensive person. “Bring these vermin to the Palace of Justice.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English vermyn, vermyne, from Old French vermine, from Vulgar Latin *verminum (“vermin”), collective noun formed from Latin vermis (“worm”). Compare vermiculate and vermivorous. See also worm.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An animal, in general. [Obs.]
- noun A noxious or mischievous animal; especially, noxious little animals or insects, collectively, as squirrels, rats, mice, flies, lice, bugs, etc. "Cruel hounds or some foul vermin." Chaucer.
Etymology [OE. vermine, F. vermine, from L. vermis a worm; cf. LL. vermen a worm, L. verminosus full of worms. See Vermicular, Worm.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “vermin”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details