maggot

American  

[mag-uht] / ˈmæg ət /

noun

1. a soft-bodied, legless larva of certain flies.

2. Archaic. an odd fancy; whim.

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maggot British  

/ ˈmæɡət /

noun

1. the soft limbless larva of dipterous insects, esp the housefly and blowfly, occurring in decaying organic matter

2. rare a fancy or whim

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Etymology

Origin of maggot

1425–75; late Middle English magot, magat, unexplained variant of maddock, Middle English mathek < Old Norse mathkr; akin to Danish maddik maggot, Old English matha, mathu grub, maggot, Old High German mado maggot

Explanation

A maggot is a small, wormlike fly larva. Maggots are sometimes found in garbage, compost piles, or other places where they can feed on decaying plants and organic matter. Yum. The nicest way to think of a maggot is as a baby fly — when maggots grow up, that's just what they become. Because maggot isn't a strictly scientific term, its definition can be vague, sometimes meaning "grub" and other times, "larva" in general. Maggots are usually found in a large, wriggling group, and can be harmful to farm animals with cuts or sores, as they can infest their skin.

Example Sentences

His electric guitar playing featured much more heavily on the album, giving it a more rocky sound - and earning comparisons to Funkadelic’s influential 1971 album, Maggot Brain.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

And that makes a difference on big, cinematic songs like the title track of Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain.

From The Verge • Jul. 11, 2016

Her latest novel for teenagers, Maggot Moon, is dedicated to all those who didn't shine at school but "who will own tomorrow".

From The Guardian • Dec. 28, 2012

They come in rich color, some serene and some disturbing, from the antifreeze green of the Splattered Shag’s beak to the primitive red and black of the Angered Maggot Sleet.

From New York Times • Oct. 1, 2012

But Farmer Maggot took him by the arm.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

• grub
• worm