WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Midge
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. migge, AS. mycge; akin to OS. muggia, D. mug, G. m?cke, OHG. mucca, Icel. m, Sw. mygga, mygg, Dan. myg; perh. named from its buzzing; cf. Gr. (Zo?l.)
Definition : 1. Any one of many small, delicate, long-legged flies of the Chironomus, and allied genera, which do not bite. Their larv? are usually aquatic.

2. A very small fly, abundant in many parts of the United States and Canada, noted for the irritating quality of its bite.

Note: The name is also applied to various other small flies. See Wheat midge, under Wheat.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913