cockroach

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkɒkrəʊtʃ/

noun

  • a beetle-like scavenging insect with long antennae and legs. Several tropical kinds have become established worldwide as household pests.
    • Suborder Blattodea, order Dictyoptera: many genera and species, including the common cockroach (Blatta orientalis) and the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

Origin:

early 17th century (as cacaroch): from Spanish cucaracha. The spelling change was due to association with cock1 and roach2