earwig

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: ear=wig

CIDE DICTIONARY

earwig, n. [AS. eárwicga; eáre ear + wicga beetle, worm: cf. Prov. E. erri-wiggle.].

•  Any insect of the genus Forficula and related genera, belonging to the order Dermaptera (formerly Euplexoptera). They have elongated bodies and a prominent pair of curved pincers at the rear of their abdomen.  [1913 Webster]
•  In America, any small chilopodous myriapod, esp. of the genus Geophilus. See Geophilus  [1913 Webster]

  " Both insects are so called from the supposition that they creep into the human ear."  [1913 Webster]
•  A whisperer of insinuations; a secret counselor.  Johnson.  [1913 Webster]

earwig, v. t. 

 To influence, or attempt to influence, by whispered insinuations or private talk.  Lord Campbell.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

earwig, n. & v.
--n.
1 any small elongate insect of the order Dermaptera, with a pair of terminal appendages in the shape of forceps.
2 US a small centipede.
--v.tr. (earwigged, earwigging) archaic influence (a person) by secret communication.

Etymology

OE earwicga f. eare EAR(1) + wicga earwig, prob. rel. to wiggle: once thought to enter the head through the ear

ROGET THESAURUS

earwig

Flattery

VB flatter, praise to the skies, puff, wheedle, cajole, glaver, coax, fawn upon, faun upon, humor, gloze, soothe, pet, coquet, slaver, butter, jolly, bespatter, beslubber, beplaster, beslaver, lay it on thick, overpraise, earwig, cog, collogue, truckle to, pander to, pandar to, suck up to, kiss the ass of, pay court to, court, creep into the good graces of, curry favor with, hang on the sleeve of, fool to the top of one's bent, lick the dust, lay the flattering unction to one's soul, gild the pill, make things pleasant, overestimate, exaggerate.

Flatterer

N flatterer, adulator, eulogist, euphemist, optimist, encomiast, laudator, whitewasher, toady, toadeater, sycophant, courtier, Sir Pertinax MacSycophant, flaneur, proneur, puffer, touter, claqueur, clawback, earwig, doer of dirty work, parasite, hanger-on, yes-man, suckup, ass-kisser, brown-noser, teacher's pet, pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes.