formicary

[ fawr-mi-ker-ee ]

noun

, plural for·mi·car·ies.

1. an ant nest.

formicary

/ ˌfɔːmɪˈkɛərɪəm; ˈfɔːmɪkərɪ /

noun

1. less common names for ant hill

Word History and Origins

Origin of formicary¹

1810–20; < Medieval Latin formīcārium ant hill, noun use of neuter of *formīcārius of, pertaining to ants. See formic, -arium

Word History and Origins

Origin of formicary¹

C19: from Medieval Latin formīcārium see formic

Example Sentences

She was moving back and forth with cautious mien, and I easily perceived was putting finishing touches to the closure of a little hole that marked the gate of her formicary hut.

From Project Gutenberg

The formicaries of the two species are often in close contact, so that the nature of the soil is precisely the same.

From Project Gutenberg

He can spend a happy day in watching the busy affairs of a formicary, and to observe the progress of a bit of spider-web architecture gives him a peculiar joy.

From Project Gutenberg

On one occasion, I took ten Lasius niger and confined them in a specially constructed formicary so that they could not possibly leave the nest.

From Project Gutenberg

Several queens often exist in one nest, and I have seen workers drag newly fertilized queens into a formicary to enlarge their resources.

From Project Gutenberg