A grasshopper is an insect with long back legs that jumps high into the air and makes a high, vibrating sound.
grasshopper in British English
(ˈɡrɑːsˌhɒpə)
noun
1.
any orthopterous insect of the families Acrididae (short-horned grasshoppers) and Tettigoniidae (long-horned grasshoppers), typically terrestrial, feeding on plants, and producing a ticking sound by rubbing the hind legs against the leathery forewings
See also locust (sense 1), katydid
2. knee-high to a grasshopper
3.
an iced cocktail of equal parts of crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and cream
4. (modifier)
unable to concentrate on any one subject for long
a grasshopper mind
grasshopper in American English
(ˈgræsˌhɑpər)
noun
1.
any of various families (esp. Acrididae) of leaping, plant-eating orthopteran insects with powerful hind legs adapted for jumping
2.
a cocktail made of green crème de menthe, cream, and, usually colorless crème de cacao
3. US, Slang Mil
a small, light airplane for scouting, liaison, and observation
Word origin
ME grashoppere, extended with -er suffix (see -er) < greshoppe < OE gærshoppe < gærs (see grass) + base of hoppian (see hop1)