gnat (g silent), gnatte, gnaytt

[A. S. gnæt; cf. Sw.gnet =a nit.] I. Ord. Lang.: In the same sense as II. 1, 2. "We made wreathes of greene gra e, which we wound about our bodies, to keepe vs from the sunne and gnats of that country." -Hackluyt : Voyages , iii. 491. II. Technically: 1. Entomology: (1) Sing.: Culex pipiens and some other species of the genus Culex (q. v.). (2) Pl .: The family Culicide (q. v.). 2. Script.: The rendering of the Greek word kōnōps , which seems to be correct. To strain at [an old misprint for out ] a gnat and swallow a camel (Matt. xxiii. 24, Authorized Version). To strain out the gnat and swallow the camel (Revised Version): Alluding to the care with which the Jews strained small insects out of the liquor they were about to drink. To be punctilious about trifles, and with the gro est inconsistency to allow one's self violations of moral principle in matters of great moment.