grasshopper

Meaning

Noun

• A mostly herbivorous insect of the order Orthoptera, noted for its ability to jump long distances and for the habit of some species communicating by stridulation; they are related to but distinct from crickets.
• A cocktail made with crème de menthe and optionally with crème de cacao.
• A young student in initial stages of training who has been chosen on account of their obvious talent.
• In ordinary square or upright pianos of London make, the escapement lever or jack, so made that it can be taken out and replaced with the key.

Origin

• From Middle English gressehopper, grashopper, grashoppyr, alteration of earlier grashope, grashoppe, greshoppe, from Old English græshoppa, gærshoppa. Equivalent to grass + hopper.
• Cognate with Saterland Frisian Gäärshupper, Dutch grashupper, grashipper, German Low German Grashüpper, Gresshüpper, German Grashüpfer, Danish græshoppe, Swedish gräshoppa, Norwegian gresshoppe.