Kerbtier

German

Alternative forms

• Kerbthier (obsolete spelling)

Etymology

From Kerbe +‎ Tier, created by Joachim Heinrich Campe 1791 to replace the Latinate term Insekt.

Noun

Kerbtier n (genitive Kerbtiers or Kerbtieres, plural Kerbtiere) (rare)

1. insect

Synonyms

• Insect, Insectum (obsolete spellings)
• Insekt
• Insektum (obsolete spelling)
• Kerf (rare, from Low German; cf. High German Kerb m, Kerbe, kerben (to notch, nick), einkerben, Einkerben, Einkerbung)

Further reading

• “Kerbtier” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Kerbtier” in Duden online