varmint
or var·ment
[vahr-muh nt]
- Chiefly Southern and South Midland U.S.
- vermin.
- an objectionable or undesirable animal, usually predatory, as a coyote or bobcat.
- a despicable, obnoxious, or annoying person.
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Origin of varmint
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for varmint
Contemporary Examples
Across the wilderness I once shot a varmint in the wilderness!
Historical Examples
I'd just like to look along the barrels of my gun at the varmint, as Jim calls him.
With Trapper Jim in the North WoodsLawrence J. Leslie
I object, if you're meaning to tackle the varmint alone and single-handed, Phil!
Phil Bradley's Mountain BoysSilas K. Boone
I saw the critter when I was on the island—more'n that, the varmint chased me.
Frank Merriwell's CruiseBurt L. Standish
A white man "cried" me off just like I was a animal or varmint or something.
Slave Narratives, OklahomaVarious
Knowing only that he was "varmint" I endeavoured to kill him quickly with a spade.
Ranching, Sport and TravelThomas Carson
varmint
- informal an irritating or obnoxious person or animal
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Word Origin
C16: dialect variant of varmin vermin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for varmint
n.
1530s, chiefly American English dialectal variant of vermin. Meaning "objectionable or troublesome person" is recorded from 1773.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper