pismire

American  

[pis-mahy^uhr, piz-] / ˈpɪsˌmaɪər, ˈpɪz- /

noun

1. an ant.

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pismire British  

/ ˈpɪsˌmaɪə /

noun

1. an archaic or dialect word for an ant

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Etymology

Origin of pismire

1350–1400; Middle English pissemyre, equivalent to pisse to urinate + obsolete mire ant, perhaps < Scandinavian (compare Danish myre, Swedish myra ), cognate with Dutch mier; pejorative name from stench of formic acid proper to ants

Example Sentences

All of us are able to smell ants, for which the great word pismire was originally coined.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Give but my spirit its desired scope, - A giant in a pismire, I not grope; Deny it,—and an ant, with on my back A firmament, the skiey vault will crack.

From Poems by Thompson, Francis

Well, you see as how I waited, and my mind was like as it might ha' been set on a pismire hillock, I waur so uneasy.

From Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 2 by Roby, John

Bravery and Cæsar were synonymous terms, and the little, mean, pismire ambitions of Roman politicians he despised, striding over their corrupt schemes for pelf and office like a winter whirlwind.

From Shakspere, Personal Recollections by Joyce, John A.

Truly 'tis said: "For ruin and the deeds preluding change, Fear not great Beasts, nor Eagles when they range: But dread the crawling worm or pismire mean, Satan selects them, for they are unseen."

From The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Complete by Meredith, George