midge

[mij] /mɪdʒ/

noun

any of numerous minute dipterous insects, especially of the family Chironomidae, somewhat resembling a mosquito.

Compare gnat (def 1).

a tiny person.

Origin

before 900; Middle English mygge, Old English mycg(e); cognate with German Mücke, Old Norse mȳ; akin to Greek myîa, Latin musca fly

Examples from the web for midge

Any small fly is commonly called a gnat or a midge, but flies of whatever kind are seldom popular, either large or small.
The phantom midge larva is so clear it's nearly invisible.
Prompt action is necessary because otherwise a new generation of the rose midge will develop in two to three weeks.
Unlike flea beetles, the midge prefers moist, shady areas.
The immature stages of the midge life cycle occur in water.

British Dictionary definitions for midge

midge

/mɪdʒ/

noun

any fragile mosquito-like dipterous insect of the family Chironomidae, occurring in dancing swarms, esp near water

any similar or related insect, such as the biting midge and gall midge

a small or diminutive person or animal

Derived Forms

midgy, adjective

Word Origin

Old English mycge; compare Old High German mucca, Danish myg

Word Origin and History for midge

Old English mygg, mycg "gnat," from Proto-Germanic *mugjon (cf. Swedish mygga, Old Saxon muggia, Middle Dutch mugghe, Dutch mug, Old High German mucka, German Mücke "midge, gnat"). No certain cognates beyond Germanic, unless doubtful Armenian mun "gnat" and Albanian mize "gnat" are counted. But Watkins, Klein and others suggest an imitative root used for various humming insects and a relationship to Latin musca (see mosquito). Meaning "diminutive person" is from 1796.

midge in Medicine

midge (mĭj)
n.
Any of various gnatlike flies, some species of which, such as the biting midges of the family Ceratopogonidae, serve as vectors for parasitic diseases.