Worm

Worm, wurm, n. a term destitute of scientific precision, but often applied to any one of the members of numerous classes of invertebrate animals which are more or less earthworm-like in appearance, the earthworm, a grub, a maggot: anything spiral: the thread of a screw: the lytta or vermiform cartilage of a dog's tongue: the instrument used to withdraw the charge of a gun: a spiral pipe surrounded by cold water into which steam or vapours pass for condensation in distilling: anything that corrupts, gnaws, or torments: remorse: a debased being, a groveller: (pl.) any intestinal disease arising from the presence of parasitic worms.—v.i. to move like a worm, to squirm: to work slowly or secretly.—v.t. to effect by slow and secret means: to elicit by underhand means: to remove the lytta or vermiform cartilage of a dog's tongue.—n. Worm′-cast, the earth voided by the earthworm.—adjs. Worm′-eat′en, eaten by worms: old: worn-out; Worm′-eat′ing, living habitually on worms; Wormed, bored by worms: injured by worms.—ns. Worm′-fence, a zigzag fence formed of stakes; Worm′-fē′ver, a feverish condition in children ascribed to intestinal worms; Worm′-gear, a gear-wheel having teeth shaped so as to mesh with a worm or shaft on which a spiral is turned, an endless screw; Worm′-gear′ing; Worm′-grass, pink-root: a kind of stonecrop; Worm′-hole, the hole made by a worm.—adj. Worm′-holed, perforated by worm-holes.—ns. Worm′-pow′der, a vermifuge; Worm′-seed, santonica: the treacle mustard; Worm′-wheel, a wheel gearing with an endless screw or worm, receiving or imparting motion.—adj. Wor′my, like a worm: grovelling: containing a worm: abounding with worms: gloomy, dismal, like the grave. [A.S. wyrm, dragon, snake, creeping animal; cog. with Goth. waurms, a serpent, Ice. ormr, Ger. wurm; also with L. vermis.]