earwig

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɪəwɪg/

noun

  • a small elongated insect with a pair of terminal appendages that resemble pincers.
    • Order Dermaptera: several families

verb (earwigs, earwigging, earwigged)

[no object] British informal
  • eavesdrop on a conversation: he looked behind him to see if anyone was earwigging
  • [with object] archaic influence (someone) by secret means: he was so sure to be earwigged in private that what he heard or said openly went for little

Origin:

Old English ēarwicga, from ēare 'ear' + wicga 'earwig' (probably related to wiggle); the insect was once thought to crawl into the human ear