ShowAnimal Kingdom

Words, phrases, expressions, idioms, and other linguistic and dialect features from the non-human world of creatures and critters. Animals, pets, fish, insects, and more.

Spider Web vs. Cobweb

Charlotte from Princeton, Kentucky, wonders: What’s the difference between a spider web and a cobweb? There’s a bit of semantic differentiation between the two: A cobweb is usually an old spider web, while a spider web that’s not...

Lachryphagy

Lachryphagy is literally “tear-eating,” and refers to the way some insects crawl up to the eyes of much larger animals to sip their protein-rich tears. The name of the wine Lachryma Christi means “tear of Christ,” and someone...