Worms
/wɜːrmz/noun
Plural of worm: a legless invertebrate animal, especially an earthworm or larva.
Did you know?The word comes from a very old Germanic root for a crawling, writhing creature, and its deep history also connects it to the medieval image of the dragon-like ‘worm’ in legendary literature.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wurmiz
“A worm, serpent, or dragon-like creeping creature”
Old English
OE
wyrm
“A worm, serpent, dragon, or reptile”
Middle English
ME
worm
“A worm; also a serpent or dragon in older usage”
Modern English
English
worm
“A legless invertebrate animal; a small creeping creature”
Modern English
English
worms
“Plural form of worm”