insects

Noun

insect (plural insects)

1. An arthropod (in the Insecta class) characterized by six legs, up to four wings, and a chitinous exoskeleton.
   • Our shed has several insect infestations, including ants, yellowjackets, and wasps.
2. (archaic, broadly) Any small, creeping, crawling, or slithering animal, excluding mammals, birds, and fish.
   • Ambroſe Parey has a picture of the ſalamander, with a receipt for her bite; but there is no ſuch creature, the name being now given to a poor harmleſs inſect.1756, Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary Of The English Language: In Which The Words are Deduced from Their Originals, And Illustrated in Their Different Significations By Examples from the Best Writers...
   1. (archaic, broadly, specifically) An arthropod or invertebrate.
      • The learned zoologiſt of our country concludes his labours in this ſcience by the preſent publication, which contains only cruſtaceous inſects, viz. crabs and lobſters, worms and ſhells.1777, The critical review, or annals of literature, Volume 44, page 158
3. (derogatory) A contemptible or powerless person.
   • The manager’s assistant was the worst sort of insect.