Meaning
A biting insect, especially a mosquito.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
From Middle English gnat, from Old English gnætt (“gnat; midge; mosquito”), from Proto-West Germanic *gnatt, *gnattu, from Proto-Germanic *gnattaz, *gnattuz (“gnat”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰneHdʰn-, *gʰneHd- (“to gnaw; scratch”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰen- (“to gnaw; bite; scratch; grind”). Cognate with Low German Gnatte (“gnat”), dialectal Swedish gnatt (“mosquito”), German Gnatz (“scabs; rash; scabies; stinginess”). Related also gnit and gnaw.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 13 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-01-22GATMENU
- 2025-10-02TAGILNZ
- 2025-09-03GAUNTRON
- 2025-08-10GAOMENT
- 2025-07-13ADTIGNU
- 2025-07-09TANEDGV
- 2025-04-16GATLENY
- 2025-01-01TOLBGNA
- 2024-03-14TNAIGBH
- 2024-03-04GACENOT
- 2023-11-21GADENTV
- 2023-08-08GUATEDN
+1 earlier appearances in the archive.