Eelworm
/ˈiːlˌwɜːrm/noun
A nematode, especially one that parasitizes plants or animals.
Did you know?“Eelworm” is a common name rather than a precise scientific classification, and has historically been applied to several different nematodes because of their slender, eel-like movement.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*werǝm-
“Worm or twisting creature; the distant root behind the Germanic worm family.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wurmiz
“Worm, serpent, or crawling creature.”
Old English
OE
wyrm
“Worm, serpent, or dragon.”
Middle English
ME
worm
“A worm or creeping invertebrate; the spelling gradually replaced wyrm in ordinary use.”
Old English
OE
ǣl
“Eel, the long, snake-like fish.”
19th Century
English
eelworm
“A compound name for a slender nematode, coined from its eel-like appearance and wormlike form.”
Modern English
English
eelworm
“A common term for nematodes, particularly plant-parasitic species.”
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