locust
UK[ˈləʊkəst]US[ˈloʊkəst]
n
A large insect that lives in hot countries, flies in large groups, and eats crops.
n
(North American) A cicada, especially the periodical cicada.
Etymology
The journey of 'locust' begins with the Latin word 'locusta', which intriguingly referred to both the swarming insect and the crustacean we now call a lobster. This dual meaning likely arose from a perceived physical resemblance in their armored exoskeletons and jointed limbs. The term passed into Old French as 'locuste' before being adopted into Middle English. The modern English word 'locust' has retained its primary zoological meaning, though in North America it also became a common name for the loud, periodic cicada, extending the concept of a noisy, swarming pest.
Analysis
The word 'locust' is a simplex loanword. Its spelling and form are borrowed as a whole unit from Old French 'locuste', which derived from Latin 'locusta'. In Latin, the word meant both 'locust' and 'lobster', a semantic link based on the shared characteristic of a hard, segmented body.
Examples
A massive cloud of locusts descended upon the farmland, devouring every green plant in sight.
The biblical plague of locusts is a powerful symbol of sudden and total devastation.
In some regions, the sound of locusts in the trees is a familiar backdrop to summer evenings.