groundling

Meanings

1. Any of various plants or animals living on or near the ground, as a benthic fish or bottom feeder, especially
2. Any of various plants or animals living on or near the ground, as a benthic fish or bottom feeder, especially:
3. The spined loach (Cobitis taenia), weather loach (Misgurnus fossilis), or other member of the loaches.
4. The ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula.
5. A dragonfly of the genus Brachythemis.
6. A moth of the genus Condica
7. An audience member in the cheap section (usually standing; originally in Elizabethan theater).
8. A person of uncultivated or uncultured taste.
9. One who is confined to the ground, especially
10. One who is confined to the ground, especially:
11. A soldier who fights on the ground or serves as ground crew, as opposed to a seaman, pilot, etc.
12. A member of a race that lives primarily underground, such as a dwarf.

Etymology

From ground + -ling. Compare Old English grundling (“a groundling fish, grundel”).