Forms: α. 4–6 vermyn, 4–7 vermyne, 6 vermynne, Sc. verming, 6–8 vermine, 6– vermin; 7, 9 dial., varmin, 7, 9 U.S., virmin. β. 5–7 vermen, 6 varmen. γ. 5 vermayn, 6 vermayne. See also VARMENT1. [a. AF. and OF. vermin masc., vermine fem. (mod.F. vermine, Pg. vermena, It. vermine):—pop. L. *vermīnum, -īna, f. vermi-s worm. The rare γ-form is prob. directly from the OF. variant vermain (cf. mod. Burg. vermaigne, Picard. vermeinn).]
1. collect. Animals of a noxious or objectionable kind: a. Orig. applied to reptiles, stealthy or slinking animals, and various wild beasts; now, except in U.S. and Austr. (see b), almost entirely restricted to those animals or birds that prey upon preserved game. † Also in phr. beast of vermin.
α. (a) 13[?]. K. Alis., 6112 (Linc. Inn MS.). Euetis & snakes and paddokes brode, Þat heom þouȝte mete gode, Al vermyn þey eteþ.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5422. A vale full of vermyn & all of vile neddirs.
1406. Patent Roll 7 Hen. IV., II. m. 28. Feras et alia animalia vermyne nuncupata.
1439. Rolls of Parlt., V. 24/1. Chese and Buttur is a Merchaundise that … wil take grete empayryng by bestes of Vermyn and Wormes.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 146. Whan they haue broughte forthe theyr byrdes, to see that they be well kepte from the gleyd, crowes, fullymartes, and other vermynne.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 355. The Catt frayeth away rattes, myce, and noysome vermine.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., 40. When the Corne is ripe … it is to be cut downe out of hande … because that birdes and other vermine wyll devoure it.
1603. G. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1892), 268. The rest … are rather vermyne than beastes of game; such is the wild Catte, the Brocke and such like.
a. 1631. Drayton, David & Goliah, 38. His father’s flock … he From ravenous vermin hourly us’d to free, His only arms his sling and sheep-hook were.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 23. We are still at Gods advantage in all, by wet, by drought, by fire, and vermine.
1684. Contempl. St. Man, II. vi. (1699), 193. A hole … filled with Snakes, Lizards, and other poisonous Virmin.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. 120. From these three Cats, I afterwards came to be so pester’d with Cats, that I was forc’d to kill them like Vermin, or wild Beasts.
1825. Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 991. The other dogs were good-looking savage vermin, averaging about 40 lbs. weight.
1859. Darwin, Orig. Spec., iii. (1860), 68. That the stock of partridges, grouse, and hares on any large estate depends chiefly on the destruction of vermin.
1900. Westm. Gaz., 29 Dec., 10/1. The fox … is … regarded in the Highlands by farmers and game-preservers as one of the worst species of vermin.
(b) 1832. Kennedy, Swallow Barn, xvi. The finest place to catch vermin, as they call the three latter species of animals [racoons, opossums, and rabbits].
1872. De Vere, Americanisms, 564. Varmin, as all wild animals are called in hunter’s phrase, whether they are hunted for sport, for profit, or for extermination.
1891. E. Jenks, Govt. Victoria, xxxi. 291, note. ‘Vermin’ includes kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, stray dogs, foxes, and rabbits, and any other animal or bird proclaimed by the Governor in Council.
β. c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), III. x. 56. There also sawe I a wondre grete pytte ful of vermen.
1526. Tindale, Acts x. 12. A certayne vessell … where in wer all maner of iiij. foted beastes of the erth and vermen and wormes. Ibid., Rev. vi. 8. Power was geven vnto them … to kyll with swearde, and with honger, and with deeth that cometh of vermen of the erth.
1592. Warner, Alb. Engl., VII. xxxvii. (1612), 178. The Weasell, Prince of Vermen.
γ. a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., ccxix. 140 b/1. Of the Famyne…, wonders are reported that they shuld ete all maner of Vermayne, as Cattes, rattes, dogges, & other.
b. Applied to creeping or wingless insects (and other minute animals) of a loathsome or offensive appearance or character, esp. those that infest or are parasitic on living beings and plants; also occas. applied to winged insects of a troublesome nature.
α. c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 916. Aftir man,… vermyn es, And aftir vermyn stynkand uglynes.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), viii. 31. In þat abbay commes neuer fleess, ne flyes, ne nan oþer swilk vermyn of corrupcioun.
1484. Caxton, Curial, 6. We after ouermoche drynkyng of wynes and grete paynes lye doun ofte in beddes ful of vermyne.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, c v b. A medecyne for vermyn.
1552. Huloet, s.v., Vermyn, as flees, lyse, wormes, etc.
1591. Nashe, Prognostication, Wks. (Grosart), II. 165. Beggers on Sunne shine dayes … commit great murthers vpon their rebellious vermine.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 103. Some of them … are transformed very strangely into a kind of vermin or wormes, who beeing couered with a hard crust or shell, lye as it were dead all the winter.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 314. In Summer, their Slaves attend about them … to scare away the Gnats and such like buzzing vermine.
1671. Milton, Samson, 574. Here rather let me drudge and earn my bread, Till vermin or the draff of servil food Consume me.
1722. De Foe, Plague (Rtldg.), 278. Hot Weather fills the Air with Vermine.
1748. Anson’s Voy., I. v. 42. These operations were extremely necessary for correcting the noisome stench on board, and destroying the vermin.
1819. Keats, Otho, IV. ii. No wrinkles where all vices nestle in Like crannied vermin.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), II. 374. Vermin of the Insect kind. The insects which infest plants, orchard trees, &c., are almost as numerous as the plants or trees themselves.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 364. For this reason tobacco ought never to be employed, as it formerly was, to kill vermin on the person.
transf. and fig. 1592. Lodge, Euphues Shadow (Hunter. Club), 10. Many there were that carryed vermine in theyr toongues to open secrecie.
c. 1621. Donne, Serm., lviii. (1640), 585. To the Consideration of those Vermin of the Soule, lesser and Unconsidered Sins.
β. 1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 16. When any flyes or other creping vermen are entered into the sayde rites of theyr skinnes.
1599. Dallam, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 54. Thare we saw diverse sortes of varmen, which we have not the like in Inglande.
2. With a, that, this, etc. a. In generic or collective sense: A kind or class of obnoxious animals.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 1039. Youre woful moder wende stedefastly, That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne Had eten yow.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3948. Quen he had voidid þis vermyn & vencust þat of ynde.
1548. Cooper, Elyot’s Dict., Volucra, a vermine, whiche eateth the tender vines.
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 16. Euen this greate beaste [i.e., the elephant] also … is troubled with this lyttle vermyne [i.e., flies].
1599. Dallam, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 54. We … weare sodonly wonderfully tormented with a varmen that was in our pillowes, the which did bite farr worss than fleaes.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., 212. This Crocodile is … a dangerous vermine used to both elements.
1634. Wither, Embl., 215. Though the mice a harmfull vermine be.
1725. T. Thomas, in Portland Papers (Hist. MSS. Comm.), VI. 110. A fox just suspended on a pole,… the shepherds … being much infested by this vermin all hereabouts.
a. 1774. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 44. Diseases … proceeding from an imperceptible vermin swarming within us.
† b. A single animal or insect of this kind.
c. 1460. J. Metham, Wks. (E.E.T.S.), 62/1668. As at the sege off Thebes Ampyorax … Fyl in-to helle alle qwyk, ryght so this foule best an vermyne Myght falle thorw the erth to helle pyne.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, V. viii. Ha cursed & euylle serpent, vermyn and fals traytour, thow hast deceyued me.
1526. Tindale, Acts xxviii. 5. He shuke of the vermen [L. vipera] into the fyre.
1590. Spenser, World’s Vanitie, 77. The subtill vermin [sc. a spider] creeping closely neare, Did in his drinke shed poyson priuilie.
1604. Breton, Passionate Sheph., Wks. (Grosart), I. 10/1. If I see the Wolle, the Brocke, the Foxe, Or any varmin stealing downe a furrowe.
1613. Chapman, Rev. Bussy D’Ambois, K j b. Storme not, nor beate your selfe thus gainst the dores, Like to a sauage vermine in a trap.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. ii. 1030. ’Tis true, a Scorpion’s Oyl is said To cure the Wounds the Vermine made.
1809. Scott, Poacher, 11. Thine eye, applausive, each sly vermin sees, That baulks the snare, yet battens on the cheese.
† c. In pl. in preceding senses. Obs.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VIII. iii. 277. Of beestes of venery and beestes of chace, and alle manere of vermayns. Ibid., X. lii. 500. Whiche were beestes of chace and beestes of venery, and whiche were vermyns.
1563. Homilies, II. Agst. Idolatry, III. Nn iij. We haue not folowed the Gentyles in makyng of images of beastes, fyshes, and vermins also.
1585. Parsons, Chr. Exerc., I. viii. 86. It must be cast out to serue for the food of vermines.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 145. There doe engender in pulse, certain little venomous Vermins.
1648. Hexham, II. s.v. Vermeluwen, To be full of Maggots, Vermins, or Wormes.
3. fig. Applied to persons of a noxious, vile, objectionable or offensive character or type.
Freq. used as a term of abuse or opprobrium; in mod. dial. sometimes without serious implication of bad qualities.
a. In collective use.
1562. Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 31. On the wthir syde, contrare cryis certane padokis, filthy verming, and fleis…, of the quhilk sort are the Pelagianis.
1572. F. de L’isle’s Legendarie, M iv b. We may then vtterly roote out this vermine (for so did the Cardinal call the Protestantes).
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. (1594), 148. Dancers, minstrels, bands, and such like vermin, whereof commonly there is no want about great personages.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 107. Whole swarmes of duskish vermin, to wit, a number of hideous highland Scots and Picts.
1690. T. Burnet, Theory Earth, II. 214. No knaves, cheats, hypocrites; the vermin of this earth, that swarm every where.
1710. Palmer, Proverbs, 81. He that falls once into the company of such vermin has a misfortune.
1767. [A. Young], Farmer’s Lett. to People, 243. These vermin, who are generally labourers, swarm in every village round me.
1820. Macaulay, in Trevelyan, Life (1876), I. ii. 98. A coronation all unknown To Europe’s royal vermin.
1859. Tennyson, Geraint, 217. I will avenge this insult…. And I will track this vermin to their earths.
1876. G. Meredith, Beauch. Career, I. ii. 29. The poacher was another kind of vermin than the stupid tenant.
b. A single person or individual of this type.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 76 b. O monstruous vermine: did I ever speake or thinke any such matter?
1627. J. Taylor, Navy of Land Ships, C viij. As a Horse being dead in the feilds and stripd, is a banquet for Dogs,… so is a Surety to those Vermins, who … prey vpon his estate.
a. 1656. Rolle, Abridgm. Lit. Action sur Case (1668), 57. He is a corrupt man, he is a Vermine in the Commonwealth.
1682. Dryden, Medal, 31. A Vermin wriggling in th’ Usurper’s ear, Bart’ring his venal wit for sums of gold.
1720. Humourist, 192. Human Society is not infested with a more dangerous Vermin than a Flatterer.
1796. Southey, Lett. fr. Spain (1799), 373. Here I was shown a den in which a Hermit lived twelve years; a small hole for so large a vermin.
1842. J. Wilson, Chr. North (1857), I. 137. The accursed vermin died somewhere in the Cottage.
1881. Ld. Salisbury in Daily Tel., 14 Nov., 2/5. The landlord is an outcast, and a vermin so horrible [etc.].
4. To stand true vermin, to show pluck and persistency. rare–1.
1834. Col. Hawker, Diary (1893), II. 67. My horse shied … and down we both came…. But I stood true vermin, and tried the islands afterwards for snipe.
5. attrib. and Comb. a. Simple attrib., as vermin head, -trap, etc. b. Objective and obj. genitive, as vermin-catcher, -destroyer, -killer; -destroying, -killing. c. Instrumental or similative, as vermin-covered, -footed, -haunted, -ridden, -tenanted adjs.; vermin-like adj.; also vermin puddle (see quot.).
It is not clear whether wermine brome, glossing L. murica in Wr.-Wülcker, 644, is an attrib. use of this word.
1811. Sporting Mag., XXXVIII. 221. Were they associated as a body of *vermin-catchers? Ibid., 222. They were a club of *vermin-destroyers.
? 188[?]. Dogs (Brit. Stand. Handbks.), iv. 18. Any of the *vermin-destroying powders.
1865. E. Burritt, Walk Land’s End, 182. There were scarcely any daisies or buttercups, or even the *vermin-footed charlock.
1831. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I. 417. To throw it off like a *vermin-haunted garment.
1861. Neale, Notes Dalmatia, 97. A tolerable inn, not more dirty nor vermin-haunted than usual.
1799. Addingham (Cumberld.) Par. Bk. (MS.), 8 *Vermin Heads, 2:8.
1680. W. W. (title), The *Vermin Killer, being a very necessary Family-Book, containing Exact Rules and Directions for the Artificial Killing and Destroying of all manner of Vermin, etc.
1772. T. Simpson (title), The Complete Vermin-killer.
1889. Daily News, 21 June, 7/1. Two packets of vermin killer containing about six grains of strychnine.
1893. W. H. Hudson, Idle Days Patagonia, v. 59. The common dog of the country is … a good watch-dog and verinin-killer.
1772. Ann. Reg., I. 129. He acquired 2000l. by *vermin-killing.
1829. Scott, Guy M., Note B. The race of Pepper and Mustard are in the highest estimation at this day, not only for vermin-killing, but for intelligence and fidelity.
1863. Atkinson, Stanton Grange (1864), 67. Vermin-killing was well carried out there.
1685. Roxb. Ballads (1884), V. 214. His … disagreeable *Vermin-like Face.
1850. Ogilvie, *Vermin Puddle, puddle formed of stiff clay and small stones or gravel beaten together until it forms a mass like pudding stone. It is used in the embankments of reservoirs, to prevent … the inroads of water rats and other vermin.
1861. Neale, Notes Dalmatia, 104. The *vermin-tenanted houses are washed by the pure green waves of the lovely bay.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort., 61. February…. Continue *Vermine Trapps, &c.
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 6133. Every description of wild beast, game, and vermin traps.
1859. Tennyson, Elaine, 139. The *vermin voices here May buzz so loud—we scorn them, but they sting.
† 6. As adj. Verminous. Obs.–1
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., I. iv. 443. See how a little vermine pouerty altereth a whole milkie disposition.
