pismire

pismire
pismire (n.) late 14c., from pyss "urine" (said to be in reference to the acrid smell of an anthill) + mire "an ant," probably from O.N. maurr "ant," perhaps distantly connected with Gk. myrmex, L. formica "ant." Cf. pissant, also early Du. mierseycke (from seycke "urine"), Finn. kusiainen (from kusi "urine").
He is as angry as a pissemyre,
Though þat he haue al that he kan desire.
[Chaucer]
Applied contemptuously to persons from 1560s.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Pismire — can refer to:* Pismire Island in Lake Michigan * Archaic term for an ant …   Wikipedia

  • Pismire — Pis mire, n. [Piss + mire; so called because it discharges a moisture vulgarly considered urine. See {Mire} an ant.] (Zo[ o]l.) An ant, or emmet. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pismire — [pis′mīr΄, piz′mīr΄] n. [ME pissemire < pisse, urine + mire, ant (< Scand, as in Dan myre, Swed myra < IE base * morwi , ant > L formica): from the odor of formic acid, discharged by ants] Archaic an ant …   English World dictionary

  • Pismire Island — is a small island in Lake Michigan of approximately 2.5 acres (0.01 km²) in size. It is part of the Beaver Island archipelago, the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and the Michigan Islands Wilderness Area. It is managed by the U.S. Fish …   Wikipedia

  • pismire — noun Etymology: Middle English pissemire, from pisse urine + mire ant, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse maurr ant; akin to Latin formica ant, Greek myrmēx Date: 14th century ant …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • pismire — /pis muyeur , piz /, n. an ant. [1350 1400; ME pissemyre, equiv. to pisse to urinate + obs. mire ant, perh. < Scand (cf. Dan myre, Sw myra), c. D mier; pejorative name from stench of formic acid proper to ants] * * * …   Universalium

  • pismire — noun /ˈpɪsmaɪə/ An ant …   Wiktionary

  • pismire — pɪzmaɪə(r) / pɪs n. ant, type of small insect that lives in large colonies …   English contemporary dictionary

  • pismire — [ pɪsmʌɪə] noun archaic an ant. Origin ME: from piss (alluding to the smell of an anthill) + obs. mire ant …   English new terms dictionary

  • pismire — n. Ant, emmet …   New dictionary of synonyms

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