C18: from Latin formīca ant; the acid occurs naturally in ants
formic in American English
(ˈfɔrmɪk)
adjective
1.
of ants
2.
designating or of a colorless acid, HCOOH, that is extremely irritating to the skin: it is found in living organisms, as ants, spiders, and nettles, and is prepared commercially for use in dyeing textiles, treating leather, preserving food, etc.
Word origin
< L formica, an ant < IE *morm-, var. of morwi- > OIr moirb, ON maurr, ant: see pismire