koringkriek, noun

/ˈkʊərəŋkrik/
Forms:
Also korenkrekel, koorn kriek.
Plurals:
koringkrieks, koringkrieke/ˈkʊərəŋkrikə/.
Origin:
Afrikaans, DutchShow more Afrikaans, from Dutch koren corn + krekel cricket, or kriek, krieken to chirp.
Any of several species of armoured ground cricket of the Tettigoniidae, especially Eugaster longipes.
[1864 T. Baines Explor. in S.-W. Afr. 376A kind of wingless insect somewhat between a locust and a cricket..which I have heard in the Cape called koren beestje (a little corn beast).]
1911 J.D.F. Gilchrist S. Afr. Zoology 120The ‘Korenkrekels,’ e.g., Eugaster..are, however, common enough; these are rather stoutly-built insects with the first pair of wings much reduced and the second absent.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 277Koorn kriek,..Eugaster longipes, an insect belonging to the Locustidae; it is very destructive to pumpkins, mealie cobs, etc., and does at times great damage to crops.
1950 W. Rose Reptiles & Amphibians 157If handled carelessly when first caught it (sc. the Crag Lizard) can inflict a severe nip, its jaws being powerful enough to crush up even those spiney-armoured wingless locusts known as Korenkrekels.
1954 S.H. Skaife Afr. Insect Life 30Many people in South Africa fear the koringkrieks because they have the reputation of being poisonous.
1956 D. Jacobson Dance in Sun 135When a sleepy koringkriek trilled one long note the sound came through the air as sharp as a drill.
1966 E. Palmer Plains of Camdeboo 13The koringkrieks lurching on immense and crooked legs.
1977 F.G. Butler Karoo Morning 41Of the many new insects that I met..there was one I..could not warm to: the koringkriek. He is corn coloured, his bloated abdomen is bigger than an acorn, he is rough and spiky all over like a lobster, he twiddles sinister feelers at you..and worse than all these, he is a cannibal.
1986 Scholtz & Holm Insects 83The Hetrodinae (armoured ground crickets, koringkrieke..) are endemic to Africa being most abundant in arid areas in southern Africa.
1987 M. Poland Train to Doringbult 138He reminded Elsa of a koringkriek, for he sat with his hands on his knees, his elbows stuck out, his shoulders hunched, his head thrust forward.
1994 M. Anderson et al. in Afr. Wildlife Vol.48 No.2, 18In the northern Cape, koringkrieke are always present during summer, albeit usually in low numbers...With the approaching winter, the koringkrieke disappear as quickly as they emerged from their dormancy beneath the ground.
Any of several species of armoured ground cricket of the Tettigoniidae, especially Eugaster longipes.
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Afrikaans
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kori, nounn.korrel, nounn.
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