maggot

play

noun mag·got \ ˈma-gət \

Definition of maggot

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

play \-gə-tē\ adjective

See maggot defined for English-language learners

See maggot defined for kids

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 of maggot from the Web

More: Prisoner says he was told to keep quiet about maggotsPine left Kinross on Saturday, having lost his job, believing the potatoes were served to prisoners on Sunday.

— paul egan, Detroit Free Press, "Prison food worker: 'I was fired for refusing to serve rotten potatoes.'," 25 Aug. 2017
Remo, a Maltese, had maggots in its fur, ears and eyes when it was found.

— max londberg, kansascity, "This neglected dog was covered in maggots, but a Mission shelter is giving him a chance," 10 Aug. 2017
Alongside the live bug displays, visitors can watch cockroaches race in a three-track rink, take home artwork made by maggots, and go on bug walks around the parkway with Academy entomologists to learn about Philadelphia’s local insect life.

— tarpley hitt, Philly.com, "Confront the elephant (beetle) in the room at BugFest," 9 Aug. 2017
While his softer parts—groin, stomach, eyes—swim with greenish-white pools of maggots.

— Longreads, "And How Much of These Hills Is Gold," 3 Aug. 2017
Golden LivingCenter-West Shore was fined $59,150 in 2015 after being cited for, among other violations, allowing a resident’s feeding tube to become infested with maggots, records show.

— jordan rau, Kaiser Health News, "Half The Time, Nursing Homes Scrutinized On Safety By Medicare Are Still Treacherous," 6 July 2017
Golden LivingCenter-West Shore was fined $59,150 in 2015 after being cited for, among other violations, allowing a resident’s feeding tube to become infested with maggots, records show.

— jordan rau, Kaiser Health News, "Half The Time, Nursing Homes Scrutinized On Safety By Medicare Are Still Treacherous," 6 July 2017
Golden LivingCenter-West Shore was fined $59,150 in 2015 after being cited for, among other violations, allowing a resident’s feeding tube to become infested with maggots, records show.

— jordan rau, New York Times, "Poor Patient Care at Many Nursing Homes Despite Stricter Oversight," 5 July 2017
Spunik, who was deaf and blind, was in extreme distress, had matted fur and extreme dental decay, was covered in maggots and tied up with a cable tether without shelter, according to the release.

— by jessical deleon, miamiherald, "They couldn’t afford a vet visit. So they they tied up their dog to die, cops say," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'maggot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of maggot

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

maggot Synonyms

Synonyms

bee, caprice, crank, fancy, freak, humor, kink, whim, megrim, notion, vagary, vagrancy, whimsy (also whimsey)

Related Words

capriciousness, fancifulness, fantasy (also phantasy), freakishness, impetuosity, whimsicality; conceit; concept, conception, image, impression, mind's eye, picture, thought; brainstorm, inspiration

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, proboscis, vespine

MAGGOT Defined for English Language Learners

maggot

play

noun

Definition of maggot for English Language Learners

: an insect that looks like a small worm and that is a young form of a fly

MAGGOT Defined for Kids

maggot

play

noun mag·got \ ˈma-gət \

Definition of maggot for Students

:a legless grub that is the larva of a fly (as a housefly)

Medical Dictionary

maggot

play

noun mag·got \ ˈmag-ət \

medical Definition of maggot

: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