Pl. cimices. Also ? 6–7 cimice, 7 chimice, cimisse, cimise. [a. L. cīmex, pl. cīmices, or its It. repr. cimice; cf. CHINCH. The pl. cimices may belong to either cimex or cimice.] A bed-bug. Now only (in form Cimex) as the entomological name of the genus.
1585. Lloyd, Treas. Health, S iij. The smale stynkynge wormes that brede in paper or wod called Cimices.
1616. Bullokar, Cimisse. A noysome little worme, flat and red, which raiseth wheals where it biteth: If it bee broken, it yieldeth a stinking smell.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 696. Cimices are found in the Holes of Bed-Sides.
1658. J. Rowland, Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 999. The stinking Beetle some confound with the Cimex or Wall-louse, a creature of the like quality; but not rightly.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, II. 182. When wars broke out, they crept out of their Cranies, like the Cimici in the Houses of Italy.
a. 1706. Evelyn, Mem. (1819), I. 201. Bedsteads in Italy are of forged iron gilded, since it is impossible to keepe the wooden ones from ye chimices.
