varmint

Meaning

1. A pestilent or predatory ground-borne animal, especially one that kills or harasses a farmer's animals or crops.
2. (broadly) An obnoxious person or troublemaker.

Synonyms

vermin

varment

annoyance

bastard

cuss

pain

Translations

اللئيم

escurçó

bestiola

feristela

Racker

Schädling

Gewürm

nuisible

peste

plaie

vermine

animale nocivo

deugniet

kwajongen

misdadiger

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈvɑːmɪnt/

Etymology

Dialectal form of vermin, derived from Latin vermis (“worm”), c. 1530–1540s. Perhaps influenced by Latin vargus (“bandit, outlaw, scoundrel”), though the pronunciation in /ɑː(ɹ)/ is more likely due to the same lowering of /ɛr/ > /ar/ found in carve < Middle English kerven and starve < Middle English sterven. The final syllable is probably altered after -ment; compare parchment < Middle English parchemyn.