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creepy-crawly. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
creepy-crawly, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
creepy-crawly in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Noun
creepy-crawly (plural creepy-crawlies)
- (informal) Any small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm that is unpleasant.
1919, Gerald Featherstone Knight, Brother Bosch: An Airman's Escape from Germany:Mattresses were either spring or made of old straw, and sometimes contained little creepy-crawlies.
2013 March 2, Tracy McVeigh, “Insects could be the planet's next food source… even if that gives you the creeps”, in The Observer:Many experts believe there is a clear environmental benefit to humans eating creepy-crawlies.
Synonyms
Translations
small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
Adjective
creepy-crawly (comparative more creepy-crawly, superlative most creepy-crawly)
- Unpleasant, repulsive.
1903, Lloyd Osbourne, “Ffrenches First”, in Love, the Fiddler:[…] and slimy, creepy-crawly dungeons with chains for your hands and feet; […]
1921, Dorothy Scarborough, Humorous Ghost Stories:Still he paid no heed; and I don't mind saying to you men that, for half a second, I felt creepy-crawly and goose-flesh down the back.
Etymology 2
From Kreepy Krauly, brand name, from Etymology 1.
Noun
creepy-crawly (plural creepy-crawlies)
- (Australia, informal, trademark erosion) An automated suction pool cleaner.