maggot

noun

mag·​got ˈma-gət How to pronounce maggot (audio)
1
: a soft-bodied legless grub that is the larva of a dipterous insect (such as the housefly)
2
: a fantastic or eccentric idea : whim
maggoty adjective

Examples of maggot in a Sentence

The rotten meat was infested with maggots. the last maggot he got in his head resulted in a disastrous extramarital affair
Recent Examples on the Web Describing the scene, authorities said in court documents obtained by The Advocate that Lacey’s body had been covered in maggots, ulcers and feces. Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 7 Feb. 2024 To See April 8’s Total Solar Eclipse—And Drops A Home Truth The Case Of The Rotten Fish On Delta Air Lines Flight From Amsterdam Two hours after departing Amsterdam, Delta Air Lines flight 133 to Detroit had to turn around when maggots fell from the overhead bins, landing on passengers below. Marisa Garcia, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 Delta Air Lines passengers were in for a gross surprise during their flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Tuesday when maggots reportedly started falling from the overhead bin. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2024 The tomato juice in that 14-ounce Bloody Mary could contain up to four maggots and 20 or more fruit fly eggs. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024 Mules killed in the assault putrefied and attracted swarms of maggots. Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024 Or that cup of juice could contain one or more maggots. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024 Through the ice, a tiny tungsten jig tipped with maggots is the ticket. David A. Brown, Field & Stream, 11 Jan. 2024 But the Black collectors were forced to ride the bus or walk home in their dank clothes covered in flecks of trash and maggots. Kurtis Lee, New York Times, 23 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'maggot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English magot, probably alteration of mathek, maddok; akin to Middle Low German mēdeke maggot, Old Norse mathkr, Old English matha

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maggot was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near maggot

Cite this Entry

“Maggot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maggot. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

maggot

noun
mag·​got ˈmag-ət How to pronounce maggot (audio)
: a soft-bodied legless larva of a two-winged fly (as the housefly)

Medical Definition

maggot

noun
mag·​got ˈmag-ət How to pronounce maggot (audio)
: a soft-bodied legless grub that is the larva of a dipteran fly (as the housefly) and develops usually in decaying organic matter or as a parasite in plants or animals

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