white ant

¹

noun

1. termite.

white-ant

²

[ hwahyt-ant, wahyt- ]

verb (used with object)

, Australian Informal.

1. to undermine or subvert from within.

white ant

noun

1. another name for termite

Word History and Origins

Origin of white ant¹

First recorded in 1675–85

Origin of white ant²

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

"A white ant," he returned, taking the little hand between his own great strong ones.

From Project Gutenberg

In this the animals were surrounded and forced to pass before a white-ant hill on which Burt was posted with the camera.

From Project Gutenberg

On account of the devastations which they occasion, Linnus has called the white ant the greatest plague of the Indies.

From Project Gutenberg

It suffices to be remembered that the mother-bee does not produce in a year what the female white ant can produce in a day.

From Project Gutenberg

There was greater appearance of intelligence in the termites, or white ant, than in these poor half-starved wretches.

From Project Gutenberg