gallinipper

Meaning

Any large insect that bites, for example, certain large mosquitos.

Synonyms

daddy longlegs

crane fly

jimmy spinner

mosquito eater

mosquito hawk

skeeter eater

Translations

Schnaken

cousin

langpootmuggen

Etymology

18thC. Origin unknown. Earlier forms were gurnipper and gal-knipper. Second element is probably nipper; first element may have become influenced by galley.