sow bug

sow·bug

or sow bug S5647000 (sou′bŭg′)n.1. See woodlouse.2. Any of various woodlice, especially of the genera Oniscus and Porcellio, that lack the ability of pillbugs to roll into a ball.

---

[From its piglike shape.]

sow bug

(saʊ) n (Animals) US and Canadian any of various woodlice, esp any of the genera Oniscus and Porcellio[C18: from its resemblance to a pig in shape]

sow′ bug`

(saʊ)
n. any of several small terrestrial isopods, esp. of the genus Oniscus; wood louse. [1740–50]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

sow bug - terrestrial isopod having an oval segmented body (a shape like a sow)slater, woodlouse - any of various small terrestrial isopods having a flat elliptical segmented body; found in damp habitatsgenus Oniscus, Oniscus - type genus of the Oniscidae; woodlice that cannot roll into a ballgenus Porcellio, Porcellio - Old World genus of isopod crustaceans