midge

noun

1. any of numerous minute dipterous insects, especially of the family Chironomidae, somewhat resembling a mosquito.Compare gnat(def 1).
2. a tiny person.

noun

1. any fragile mosquito-like dipterous insect of the family Chironomidae, occurring in dancing swarms, esp near water
2. any similar or related insect, such as the biting midge and gall midge
3. a small or diminutive person or animal

n.Old English mygg, mycg “gnat,” from Proto-Germanic *mugjon (cf. Swedish mygga, Old Saxon muggia, Middle Dutch mugghe, Dutch mug, Old High German mucka, German Mücke “midge, gnat”). No certain cognates beyond Germanic, unless doubtful Armenian mun “gnat” and Albanian mize “gnat” are counted. But Watkins, Klein and others suggest an imitative root used for various humming insects and a relationship to Latin musca (see mosquito). Meaning “diminutive person” is from 1796. n.

1. Any of various gnatlike flies, some species of which, such as the biting midges of the family Ceratopogonidae, serve as vectors for parasitic diseases.