gnat

Definition of gnat

3 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

noun

Any small insect of the order Diptera, specifically within the suborder Nematocera.

“[A]nd his servant was beside him with a fan to keep away the flies and gnats.”

See all 3 definitions

noun

Any small insect of the order Diptera, specifically within the suborder Nematocera.

“[A]nd his servant was beside him with a fan to keep away the flies and gnats.”
(informal)An annoying person.

“"Away thou whining gnat, and trouble me not!"”
(historical)A type of jet fighter aircraft.

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From Middle English gnat, from Old English gnætt (“gnat; midge; mosquito”), from Proto-West Germanic *gnatt, *gnattu, from Proto-Germanic *gnattaz, *gnattuz (“gnat”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰneHdʰn-, *gʰneHd- (“to gnaw; scratch”), from Proto-Indo-European…

See full etymology

From Middle English gnat, from Old English gnætt (“gnat; midge; mosquito”), from Proto-West Germanic *gnatt, *gnattu, from Proto-Germanic *gnattaz, *gnattuz (“gnat”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰneHdʰn-, *gʰneHd- (“to gnaw; scratch”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰen- (“to gnaw; bite; scratch; grind”). Cognate with Low German Gnatte (“gnat”), dialectal Swedish gnatt (“mosquito”), German Gnatz (“scabs; rash; scabies; stinginess”). Related also gnit and gnaw.

Anagrams of gnat

2 plays · some not in Scrabble

Best play tang 5 points

GANT 5 pts

Words you can make from gnat

12 playable · top: TANG (5 pts)

Best play tang 5 points

3-letter words

6 words

2-letter words

5 words

Hooks

1 extension · 1 back

A single letter you can add to gnat to make another valid word.

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GNATS 6 pts