midge

American  

[mij] / mɪdʒ /

noun

1. any of numerous minute dipterous insects, especially of the family Chironomidae, somewhat resembling a mosquito.

2. Chiefly British. a little person.

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midge British  

/ mɪdʒ /

noun

1. any fragile mosquito-like dipterous insect of the family Chironomidae, occurring in dancing swarms, esp near water

2. any similar or related insect, such as the biting midge and gall midge

3. a small or diminutive person or animal

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Other Word Forms

• midgy
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of midge

First recorded before 900; Middle English mygge, Old English mycg; cognate with German Mücke, Old Norse mȳ; akin to Greek myîa, Latin musca “fly”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

midge

It is currently thought the patient contracted Shav through a midge bite in eastern France, the country's health and agriculture ministries said on Thursday, where cases were first identified in animals in the spring.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

As for Arthur, the eye midge grants him a second life of sorts, popping itself into his dead skull and jerking him from prone into a seated position.

From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2025

A Scottish summer is synonymous with the humble yet pesky midge.

From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2025

Other small fossils new to science have also been found at Otago sites this year, including the first dancefly, cranefly, phantom midge and marsh beetle fossils from New Zealand.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 2, 2024

She was deeply troubled, and there was no need to explain: every strand of moss, every icy puddle, every midge in her homeland thrilled against her nerves and called her back.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

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