maggot

[mag-uht]

noun

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

2. Archaic.,  an odd fancy; whim.

maggot

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of maggot¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of maggot¹

C14: from earlier mathek; related to Old Norse mathkr worm, Old English matha, Old High German mado grub

Example Sentences

A parasitic fly whose maggots can infest living livestock, birds, pets and humans, could threaten California soon.

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He also said: "I wanna kill so badly, watching pathetic maggots die arouses me."

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The eggs hatch into maggots which burrow into the wound or the membrane, feeding on the living flesh.

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NWS myiasis is a parasitic infestation of fly larvae, or maggots, caused by parasitic flies.

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The inmates at the camp in Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve say they face days without showers, extreme temperatures, lack of water and maggots in their food.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• grub 
• worm