Definition

A small wild animal or pest considered undesirable or destructive, such as rats, rabbits, or coyotes; also used colloquially to refer to an annoying or troublesome person. The term carries a folksy, informal tone common in rural American English.

Example Usage

The farmer set traps to catch the varmints that were raiding his grain stores.

Origin

A dialectal alteration of 'vermin,' influenced by folk etymology or pronunciation changes in American English.

Fun Fact

In Western movies and rural folklore, 'varmint' became iconic slang for any critter worth hunting, contributing to its enduring place in Americana.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

Related Terms

Beginner

cheerleading

We have all heard the opinion that cheerleading is not a sport. The fact that we don't tackle our opponents to the ground for a ball does NOT mean that we are not athletes. We work just as hard as "real athletes" work. Our practices are just as intense and our competitions are even more intense then a basketball or football game. Our sport, unlike most, is not a selfish one. Part of being on a cheerleading squad is appreciating and cheering on our fellow athletes. The same athletes that insult OUR sport. What is it that qualifies an activity to be a sport? Is it the ball? No, wrestling is a sport and it doesn't contain a ball. Is it the sweat? Can't be the sweat, cheerleaders sweat just as much (but we hide it well!) Is it the practice? Nope, our practices are more intense than many other sports' practices. The audience? No, can't be that either, audiences at competitions out number those at many ball games! So WHAT is it?! Cheerleading takes just as much dedication and skill as any other sport, sometimes it takes more. The problem is that other athletes have no idea what it takes to be a cheerleader. We make it look so easy. We fly through the air with grace, we catch our teammates as though they are feathers floating from the sky. They don't understand the technique and time it takes to master such skills. To us, cheerleading is not a game, like football or basketball, cheerleading is a way of LIFE. Cheerleading, more than any other sort, teaches important skills such as cooperating. Let's face it, if a cheerleading squad can't cooperate, stunts can't hit and people get hurt. Other sports ENCOURAGE team cooperation, and they may lose a game if they fail to cooperate;. but overall, no one gets hurt. What does a "sport" have that we don't? We practice, compete, have rules, go through training, sweat, fall, get hurt, and dedicate our lives to cheerleading...there is NO REASON why cheerleading should not be considered a sport.

📱 Gen-Z / Internet Slang

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