Definitions
a centipede
Etymology
About
The character 蝍 is a phono-semantic compound primarily used in classical binomes to denote centipedes or similar multi-legged creeping creatures. Its semantic radical 虫 on the left categorizes the organism within the traditional grouping of insects, worms, and terrestrial arthropods. The right component 即 serves as the phonetic indicator, dictating the character’s pronunciation without carrying significant independent meaning. Functioning as a dependent syllable within compound words, it acts as a taxonomic tool for identifying specific venomous insects in traditional agricultural and medical literature.