earwig

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Any of various elongate insects of the order Dermaptera, having a pair of pincerlike appendages protruding from the rear of the abdomen.
2. v. To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The popular English name of all the cursorial orthopterous insects of the family Forficulidæ, representing the suborder Euplexoptera, which has several genera and numerous species. There is a popular notion that these insects creep into the ear and cause injury to it. They are mostly nocturnal and phytophagous, though some are carnivorous. They have filiform, many-jointed antennæ, short, veinless, leathery upper wings, under wings folded both lengthwise and crosswise, anal forceps, and no ocelli. The common earwig is Forficula auricularis; the great earwig is Labidura gigantea; the little earwig is Labia minor. Another species is Spongophora brunneipennis.
2. n. In the United States, the common name of any of the small centipeds, such as are found in houses in most of the States.
3. n. One who gains the ear of another by stealth and whispers insinuations; a prying informer; a whisperer.
4. To gain the ear of and influence by covert statements or insinuations; whisper insinuations in the ear of against another; fill the mind of with prejudice by covert statements.

Wiktionary

1. n. Any of various insects of the order Dermaptera that have elongated bodies, large membranous wings folded underneath short leathery forewings and a pair of large pincers protruding from the rear of the abdomen.
2. v. transitive To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations.
3. v. transitive To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk.
4. v. intransitive, UK, slang To eavesdrop.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Zoöl.) 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.
2. n. (Zoöl.) In America, any small chilopodous myriapod, esp. of the genus Geophilus. See Geophilus
3. n. A whisperer of insinuations; a secret counselor.
4. v. To influence, or attempt to influence, by whispered insinuations or private talk.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. any of numerous insects of the order Dermaptera having elongate bodies and slender many-jointed antennae and a pair of large pincers at the rear of the abdomen