Definitions
small air-breathing arthropod
Word origin
Borrowed from Middle French insecte, from Latin īnsectum, from īnsectus (“cut into, cut up, with a notched or divided body”), from perfect passive participle of īnsecō (“to cut into, to cut up”), from in- + secō (“to cut”), from the notion that the insect's body is "cut into" three sections (head, thorax, abdomen). Calque of Ancient Greek ἔντομον (éntomon, “insect”), from ἔντομος (éntomos, “cut into pieces”).
Used in a sentence
“Our shed has several insect infestations, including ants, yellowjackets, and wasps.”
“Ambroſe Parey has a picture of the ſalamander, with a receipt for her bite; but there is no ſuch creature, the name being now given to a poor harmleſs inſect.”
“The learned zoologiſt of our country concludes his labours in this ſcience by the preſent publication, which contains only cruſtaceous inſects, viz. crabs and lobſters, worms and ſhells.”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer2 curated clues
01“Six-legged creature”6 letters
02“Six-legged animal”6 letters
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