Ohrwurm

[Christian Kaernbach <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> This may or may not be of interest, but in German a song stuck in your
> head is called an "Ohrwurm" (lit. "earwig").  Very descriptive! :)

The Oxford Etymology Dictionary says earwig is ear-beetle with an Old
English word for beetle, from wiggle, describing its movement. No
connections to wig, short for periwig, from peruke, from it. perucca.
Earwig/Ohrwurm/perce-oreille describes an insect (dermaptera) which is
thought to penetrate the ear. Kluge (German Etymology Dictionary) says
that these insects - dried and pulverized - were used in ancient Greek
medicine to treat deseases of the ear. When this type of treatment got
forgotten, popular etymology interpreted it as doing harm to the ear.
Maybe earwig treatment could solve the tune-stuck-in-the-head problem.

- Christian Kaernbach