Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
walkingstick

walkingstick

1 8.8
A long thin insect that hides on branches by looking like a stick
  • noun
  • /ˈwɔːkɪŋˌstɪk/
  • US
: insecto palo
  • The walkingstick insect is so well-camouflaged that it can be hard to spot among the branches.

Examples

  • I'm a walkingstick.

    A Bug's Life (1998)

  • You're a walkingstick.

    A Bug's Life (1998)

  • When hiking in the rainforest, I was amazed by how the walkingstick blended in with the twigs and leaves around it.

  • Many species of walkingstick have bodies that perfectly mimic the appearance of sticks, allowing them to avoid predators.

Synonyms

stick insect
vswalkingstick
2 5.6

A long thin insect that looks like a twig

highlights camouflage among branches rather than general resemblance
walking stick
vswalkingstick
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A long thin insect that looks like a twig

is identical in meaning but written as one combined word

Surface Forms

walkingstick singular
walkingsticks plural

Morphology

walkingstick = walking + stick (semi-transparent) = walking + stick

The components 'walking' and 'stick' are literal, but the compound commonly refers to an insect resembling a stick rather than a stick used for walking, so learners may be uncertain.

Etymology

Walkingstick comes from the simple parts walking and stick, meaning 'a stick that walks'. The insect has a long, thin body like a twig and moves slowly to hide among branches, which is why people call it a walkingstick.