What does "vermin" mean?
Vermin: (Geneva Bible). This crocodile is a mischievous fourfooted beast, a dangerous vermin, used to both elements. Holland.
Additional senses
- 2.A noxious or mischievous animal; especially, noxious little animals or insects, collectively, as squirrels, rats, mice, flies, lice, bugs, etc. "Cruel hounds or some foul vermin." Chaucer. Great injuries these vermin, mice and rats, do in the field. Mortimer. They disdain such vermin when the mighty boar of the forest . . . is before them. Burke.
- 3.Hence, in contempt, noxious human beings. You are my prisoners, base vermin. Hudibras.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00