chigger
UK[ˈtʃɪɡə]US[ˈtʃɪɡər]
n
The tiny, parasitic larval stage of certain mites, which attaches to the skin and causes intense itching.
n
(also chigoe) A small tropical flea, the female of which burrows into the skin, causing painful sores.
Etymology
The word 'chigger' is a fascinating example of linguistic adaptation from the New World. It originates from the Carib word 'chigo', referring to a burrowing flea, which was adopted into Spanish as 'chique'. English explorers and colonists encountered the pest in the West Indies and adopted the term as 'chigoe'. Through a process of folk etymology and phonetic simplification in American English, 'chigoe' gradually transformed into the more familiar 'chigger'. This journey from an indigenous Caribbean term to a common English word for a pest mirrors the historical and ecological exchanges of the colonial era.
Analysis
The word 'chigger' is a simplex loanword. It is an alteration of 'chigoe', which itself entered English in the 17th century. Its ultimate origin is believed to be from a Carib language of the West Indies.
Examples
After walking through the tall grass, my ankles were covered in chigger bites.
Applying insect repellent is the best way to prevent chiggers from latching onto your skin.
The intense itch from a chigger bite is caused by the larva's digestive enzymes.