water scorpion

noun

: any of numerous aquatic bugs (family Nepidae) with the end of the abdomen prolonged by a long breathing tube

Examples of water scorpion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Despite their name and appearance, water scorpions are not related to true scorpions and do not possess venomous stingers. Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 8 June 2024 The package comes with a cicada, a cockroach, a Japanese beetle, a water scorpion and an assassin bug for your amateur entomologists. Good Housekeeping, 18 Nov. 2022 Later in the segment, when faced with ranking the solo music careers of his former boy band mates, Styles again declined to answer, this time having to stomach a bite of giant water scorpion. Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, 11 Dec. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of water scorpion was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near water scorpion

Cite this Entry

“Water scorpion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20scorpion. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on water scorpion

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!