Word of the Day – Gallinipper

Gallinipper (adj)

ga-li-nip-er

any of various insects that sting or bite, especially a large American mosquito.

Gallinipper is a term with an obscure history. The word previously appeared variously as gal-knipper and gurnipper, and the second half of gallinipper looks as it does because of the influence of nipper, “a thing that bites.” Gallinipper was first recorded in English around 1680.

Example sentences

“There were gallinippers everywhere down by the lake.”