A locust is a type of grasshopper that, under certain conditions, gathers in huge swarms and eats large amounts of crops and plants. These swarms can cause serious damage to farms.
It comes from Latin “locusta,” which meant both “locust” and “lobster,” probably because of the similar body shape. Over time, English used it only for the insect.
Locusts are just grasshoppers that switch into “swarm mode” when crowded, changing color and behavior. A single swarm can contain billions of insects and strip fields bare, turning the air itself into a moving, eating cloud.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.