Midge, n.

n. [A-S. mygge, mycg, micg, Sw. mygga, mygg, Dan. myg, Icel. my, O. Sax. muggia, L. Ger. mugge, D. mug, O. H. Ger. mugga, mucca, M. H. Ger. mugge, mügge, mucke, müicke, N. H. Ger. mücke, allied to Russ. & Pol. mucha, a fly, Bohem. maucha, Gr. μυῖα, Lat. musca, Skr. makshikā.] (Entom.) A very delicate fly of the genus Chironomus, having a short proboscis and long legs. It undergoes a metamorphosis in the water, like the gnat, with which it is commonly confounded.