Etymology Inferred singular of termites, the plural of Latin termes (“woodworm”), which was used for termites by Linnaeus.
1
A white-bodied, wood-consuming insect of the infraorder Isoptera, in the order Blattodea.
Linnæus describes this insect under the Latin name of Termes; and citizen Cuvier speaks of it under that of Termites. The vulgar call it by that of white ant, or fourmi vaguevague. The termites divide themselves into societies: each society builds itself a next, and each nest belongs to an innumerable quantity of these insects, who acknowledge for their chiefs a king and a queen.1802, Francis William Blagdon, Modern Discoveries; or, a Collection of facts and observations, volume IV, page 162:
2
A contemptible person.
This two faced termite has the nerve to talk.2019, Justin Blackburn, The Bisexual Christian Suburban Failure Enlightening Bipolar Blues, page 31: