oil bug
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A microfossil, particularly a foraminiferan.
Register: dated, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “oil bug” mean?
A microfossil, particularly a foraminiferan.
Is “oil bug” formal or informal?
oil bug is generally dated, slang.