Hypertext Webster Gateway: "bug"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Bug \Bug\, n. [OE. bugge, fr. W. bwg, bwgan, hobgoblin,
scarecrow, bugbear. Cf. {Bogey}, {Boggle}.]
1. A bugbear; anything which terrifies. [Obs.]

Sir, spare your threats: The bug which you would
fright me with I seek. --Shak.

2. (Zo["o]l.) A general name applied to various insects
belonging to the Hemiptera; as, the squash bug; the chinch
bug, etc.

3. (Zo["o]l.) An insect of the genus {Cimex}, especially the
bedbug ({C. lectularius}). See {Bedbug}.

4. (Zo["o]l.) One of various species of Coleoptera; as, the
ladybug; potato bug, etc.; loosely, any beetle.

5. (Zo["o]l.) One of certain kinds of Crustacea; as, the sow
bug; pill bug; bait bug; salve bug, etc.

Note: According to present popular usage in England, and
among housekeepers in America, bug, when not joined
with some qualifying word, is used specifically for
bedbug. As a general term it is used very loosely in
America, and was formerly used still more loosely in
England. ``God's rare workmanship in the ant, the
poorest bug that creeps.'' --Rogers (--Naaman). ``This
bug with gilded wings.'' --Pope.

{Bait bug}. See under {Bait}.

{Bug word}, swaggering or threatening language. [Obs.]
--Beau. & Fl.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

bug
n 1: general term for any insect or similar creeping or crawling
invertebrate
2: a fault or defect in a system or machine [syn: {glitch}]
3: a small hidden microphone; for listening secretly
4: insects with sucking mouthparts and forewings thickened and
leathery at the base; usually show incomplete
metamorphosis [syn: {hemipterous insect}, {hemipteran}, {hemipteron}]
5: a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium);
the term is not in technical use [syn: {microbe}, {germ}]
v 1: annoy persistently; "The children teased the boy because of
his stammer" [syn: {tease}, {badger}, {harass}, {pester},
{beleaguer}]
2: tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information; "The
FBI was tapping the phone line of the suspected spy"; "Is
this hotel room bugged?" [syn: {wiretap}, {tap}, {intercept}]


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