Where does “earbug” come from?

earbug (English) comes from English ear, from Middle English ēre, from Old English ēare, from Proto-West Germanic auʀā, from Proto-Germanic ausô, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ṓws, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew- — to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be...

earbug (English): Any of various agricultural pests of genus Leptocorisa that attack grain crops

Definitions

  1. Any of various agricultural pests of genus Leptocorisa that attack grain crops

Ancestry of “earbug”, step by step

earbug traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ear

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishearThe organ of hearing, consisting of the pinna,...
2Middle EnglishēreThe ear organ that receives sound
3Old Englishēareear
4Proto-West Germanicauʀāear
5Proto-Germanicausôear
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ṓwsear
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ew-to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be...

via English Bug

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBugA Volkswagen Beetle car; A Bugatti car
2Englishbuggebeetle
3Middle Englishbuggebogy, hobgoblin, bugbear; scarecrow
4Proto-Germanicbugja-swollen up, thick
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ṓwsEvery word from Proto-Germanic ausô