midge Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun minute two-winged mosquito-like fly lacking biting mouthparts; appear in dancing swarms especially near water

WordNet

Midge noun
Etymology
OE. migge, AS. mycge; akin to OS. muggia, D. mug, G. mücke, OHG. mucca, Icel. m, Sw. mygga, mygg, Dan. myg; perh. named from its buzzing; cf. Gr. to low, bellow.
Definitions
(Zoöl.)
  1. Any one of many small, delicate, long-legged flies of the Chironomus, and allied genera, which do not bite. Their larvæ are usually aquatic.
  2. A very small fly, abundant in many parts of the United States and Canada, noted for the irritating quality of its bite. ✍ The name is also applied to various other small flies. See Wheat midge, under Wheat.

Webster 1913