no-see-um

noun

nō-ˈsē-əm How to pronounce no-see-um (audio)
: biting midge

Word History

Etymology

from the words (as supposedly spoken by American Indians) no see um you don't see them

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of no-see-um was in 1842

Rhymes for no-see-um

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Browse Nearby Words

nose drops
no-see-um
nose flute
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Cite this Entry

“No-see-um.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/no-see-um. Accessed 8 May. 2025.

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Kids Definition

no-see-um

noun
nō-ˈsē-əm
: any of various tiny two-winged flies that bite
Etymology

from the words (as supposedly spoken by Indigenous American people) no see um "you don't see them"

More from Merriam-Webster on no-see-um

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about no-see-um

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