maggotEnglishOxford Dictionary of Englishmaggot /ˈmaɡət / ▸ noun 1 a soft-bodied legless larva of a fly or other insect, found in decaying matter: the maggots attack the roots of the developing cabbages. ▪ [mass noun] Fishing bait consisting of a maggot or maggots: these sections produced a few good roach to maggot. 2 archaic a whimsical or strange idea. – PHRASES act the maggot Irish English informal behave in a foolishly playful way: we'd all walk in a line behind him, acting the maggot, you know, imitating him.– ORIGIN late Middle English: perhaps an alteration of dialect maddock, from Old Norse mathkr, of Germanic origin.
EnglishOxford Dictionary of EnglishEnglishOxford Dictionary of English
EnglishOxford Dictionary of English