earthworm

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English erthe-worm, erþe-worm, erþe worm (also as worm of þe erthe, worm of þe erþe), equivalent to earth +‎ worm. Compare Saterland Frisian Äidwurm (“earthworm”), West Frisian ierdwjirm (“earthworm”), Dutch aardworm (“earthworm”), less common German Erdwurm (“earthworm”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈɜː(ɹ)θˌwɜː(ɹ)m/ Hyphenation: earth‧worm === Noun === earthworm (plural earthworms) A worm that lives in the ground. A worm of the family Lumbricidae, or, more generally, of the suborder Lumbricina. (figurative) A contemptible person; a groveller. ==== Synonyms ==== (a ground-living worm): rainworm, groundworm; wiggler, red worm, red wiggler (Southern US); nightwalker (New England); nightcrawler (Northern US, Western US); dew worm (US Great Lakes region, Canada) ==== Hyponyms ==== (a ground-living worm): baitworm; fishworm (Northern US, Central US); angleworm (Northern US); fishing worm (Southern US) - fish bait ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “earthworm”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “earthworm”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. earthworm on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === heartworm