What is the origin of the name for the insect called an earwig?

Answer 1

The name "earwig" is generally said to originate from an old European belief that earwigs crawl into people's ears and lay eggs in the brain. This etymology is given by the Oxford English Dictionary, which states unequivocally that the name is derived from Old English éare, "ear", and wicga, "insect", "from the notion that it penetrates into the head through the ear." Earwigs do tend to prefer being in hidden places, and this etymology parallels the unambiguous French name perce-oreille ("ear piercer"). Another hypothesis is that the word comes from the Late Latin auricula, owing to the ancient use of pulverized earwigs as medicine to treat diseases of the ear. A third explanation is that it is an alteration of "ear-wing", after the shape of the hind wings when unfolded.

Answer 2

Insect Etymology

Answer 3

The name comes from a European superstition that they crawled into the ear and laid eggs in the brain. It was brought on by the insect's nature of living in damp places, which would on occasion include the ear of people sleeping on the floor.

Answer 4

Probably just coincidence, but when I raised corn in my garden in Florida, many of the ears had either worms or earwigs in them.

Answer 5

I think i have an earwig in my head cos something is itchin me badly...Or maybe it's an ant with muscles,but tis ok..

Answer 6

They gave people who couldn't sleep, the creeps. Kept imagining them in their ears, and the rest is history.

Answer 7

Dunno we call the little bugger Forkie Tails :D