midge / mij/ • n. 1. a small two-winged fly that is often seen in swarms near water or marshy areas where it breeds. There are two families: Chironomidae (the nonbiting midges), and Ceratopogonidae (the biting midges). ∎  any of a number of small flies whose larvae can be pests of plants, typically producing galls or damaging leaves. 2. inf. a small person.ORIGIN: Old English mycg(e); related to German Mücke, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin musca.

midge OE. myċġ(e), corr. to OS. muggia (Du. mug), OHG. mucca (G. mücke), ON. mý :- Gmc. *muʒjaz, *muʒjōn, rel. to L. musca fly, Gr. muîa.
Hence midget sand-fly (in Canada); extremely small person. XIX.