creepy-crawly

noun, adj — 3 senses

creepy-crawly

noun

1

Informal Any small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm that is unpleasant.

Mattresses were either spring or made of old straw, and sometimes contained little creepy-crawlies.1919, Gerald Featherstone Knight, Brother Bosch: An Airman's Escape from Germany:
Many experts believe there is a clear environmental benefit to humans eating creepy-crawlies.2013 March 2, Tracy McVeigh, “Insects could be the planet's next food source… even if that gives you the creeps”, in The Observer:

creepy-crawly

adj

1

Unpleasant, repulsive.

[…] and slimy, creepy-crawly dungeons with chains for your hands and feet; […]1903, Lloyd Osbourne, “Ffrenches First”, in Love, the Fiddler:
Still he paid no heed; and I don't mind saying to you men that, for half a second, I felt creepy-crawly and goose-flesh down the back.1921, Dorothy Scarborough, Humorous Ghost Stories:

creepy-crawly

noun

Etymology A partial appellativization of Kreepy Krauly, a brand name, from Etymology 1.

1

Australia, Informal An automated suction pool cleaner.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.