noun
maggot
MAG-ut/ˈmæɡət/
A soft wormlike fly larva commonly found in decay.
A pale maggot wriggles through the scraps in the trash.
Etymology
Maggot probably arose as an unexplained variant of Middle English maddok, which could name earthworms, bedbugs, or maggots. The selected meaning is narrower: the soft, legless larva of a fly.
In context
they're called maggots because this is a fly and a fly baby is called a maggot so they're little tiny
More examples
- Maggots hatch from fly eggs laid on rotting food.
- She puts a maggot on the hook as fishing bait.
- The overturned garbage can is crawling with maggots.
Forms
maggot · maggots
maggoty adjective — Containing or infested with maggots.