n. (Zool.) A earthworm of the genus Lumbricus, frequently used by anglers for bait. See Earthworm. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) (a) A lepidopterous insect, which in the larval state often travels in great multitudes from field to field, destroying grass, grain, and other crops. The common army worm of the northern United States is the noctuid moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta, formerly Leucania unipuncta. The name is often applied to other related species, as the cotton worm. (b) The larva of a small two-winged fly (Sciara), which marches in large companies, in regular order. See Cotton worm, under Cotton.
Syn. -- army worm [ 1913 Webster ]

2. the larva of the fungus gnat; -- they march in large companies in regular order. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Zool.) A peculiar transparent worm of the genus Sagitta, living at the surface of the sea. See Sagitta. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 2d back, n. + worm. ] A disease of hawks. See Filanders. Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) One of several lepidopterous insects which construct, in the larval state, a baglike case which they carry about for protection. One species (Platœceticus Gloveri) feeds on the orange tree. See Basket worm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A small, burrowing, snakelike, limbless lizard (Anguis fragilis), with minute eyes, popularly believed to be blind; the slowworm; -- formerly a name for the adder. [ 1913 Webster ]

Newts and blindworms do no wrong. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The larva of a moth (Heliothis armigera) which devours the bolls or unripe pods of the cotton plant, often doing great damage to the crops. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Zool.) Any larva of a beetle or moth, which is injurious to books. Many species are known. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A student closely attached to books or addicted to study; a reader without appreciation. [ 1913 Webster ]

I wanted but a black gown and a salary to be as mere a bookworm as any there. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zoöl.), the larva of several species of moths and butterflies, which attacks cabbages. The most common is the toxic green larva of a white butterfly, the cabbage butterfly, (Pieris rapæ). The cabbage cutworms, which eat off the stalks of young plants during the night, are the larvæ of several species of moths, of the genus Agrotis. See Cutworm. larva of a cabbage butterfly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } n. A caddice. See Caddice. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The larva of two species of geometrid moths which are very injurious to fruit and shade trees by eating, and often entirely destroying, the foliage. Other similar larvæ are also called cankerworms. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The autumnal species (Anisopteryx pometaria) becomes adult late in autumn (after frosts) and in winter. The spring species (Anisopteryx vernata) remains in the ground through the winter, and matures in early spring. Both have winged males and wingless females. The larvæ are similar in appearance and habits, and belong to the family of measuring worms or spanworms. These larvæ hatch from the eggs when the leaves begin to expand in spring. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A worm or grub that makes for itself a case. See Caddice. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. cyrran, cerran, to turn. ] (Zool.) An insect that turns about nimbly; the mole cricket; -- called also fan cricket. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) The teredo; -- so called because it injures the bottoms of vessels, where not protected by copper. (b) The ringworm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A caterpillar which at night eats off young plants of cabbage, corn, etc., usually at the ground. Some kinds ascend fruit trees and eat off the flower buds. During the day, they conceal themselves in the earth. The common cutworms are the larvæ of various species of Agrotis and related genera of noctuid moths. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See Earthworm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The larva of any geometrid moth, which drops from trees by means of a thread of silk, as the cankerworm or inchworm. See inchworm and geometrid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Zoöl.) Any worm of the genus Lumbricus and allied genera, found in damp soil. One of the largest and most abundant species in Europe and America is L. terrestris; many others are known; -- called also angleworm and dewworm. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A mean, sordid person; a niggard. Norris. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The larva of any moth of the genus Hyphantria, which spins a web around the foliage on which it feeds. [ PJC ]

n. (Zool.) The larva of a small tortricid moth which eats the leaves of the cranberry, so that the vines look as if burned; -- called also cranberry worm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A worm or grub found among flags and sedge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any worm belonging to the Platyhelminthes; also, sometimes applied to the planarians. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Same as 1st Fluke, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. so called because the numerous legs along the sides move rhythmically like the oars of a galley. ] (Zool.) A chilognath myriapod of the genus Iulus, and allied genera, having numerous short legs along the sides; a milliped or “thousand legs.” See Chilognatha. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The parasitic worm that causes the gapes in birds. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A coleopterous insect of the genus Lampyris; esp., the wingless females and larvæ of the two European species (L. noctiluca, and L. splendidula), which emit light from some of the abdominal segments. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like a glowworm in the night,
The which hath fire in darkness, none in light. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The male is winged, and is supposed to be attracted by the light of the female. In America, the luminous larvæ of several species of fireflies and fire beetles are called glowworms. Both sexes of these are winged when mature. See Firefly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The aquatic larva of a gnat; -- called also, colloquially, wiggler. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The fluke of sheep. See Fluke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See Grub, n., 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

And gnats and grubworms crowded on his view. C. Smart. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) The larva or grub of a large South American beetle (Calandra palmarum), which lives in the pith of palm trees and sugar cane. It is eaten by the natives, and esteemed a delicacy. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A nematoid worm of the genus Gordius, resembling a hair. See Gordius. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The larva of a botfly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The larva of any geometrid moth. It progresses forward by first bringing the rear end of the body forward, forming a loop, then moving the front part of the body; called also measuring worm, measuringworm, spanner, and looper. See Geometrid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The larva of a small, hymenopterous fly (Eurytoma hordei), which is found in gall-like swellings on the stalks of wheat, usually at or just above the first joint. In some parts of America it does great damage to the crop. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The lugworm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 1st lug + worm. ] (Zool.) A large marine annelid (Arenicola marina) having a row of tufted gills along each side of the back. It is found burrowing in sandy beaches, both in America and Europe, and is used for bait by European fishermen. Called also lobworm, and baitworm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of several species of parasitic nematoid worms which infest the lungs and air passages of cattle, sheep, and other animals, often proving fatal. The lungworm of cattle (Strongylus micrurus) and that of sheep (Strongylus filaria) are the best known. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A tippler. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Maw the belly + worm. ] (Zool.) (a) Any intestinal worm found in the stomach, esp. the common round worm (Ascaris lumbricoides), and allied species. (b) One of the larvae of botflies of horses; a bot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Zool.) A larva or grub that lives in muck or manure; -- applied to the larvae of the tumbledung and allied beetles. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who scrapes together money by mean labor and devices; a miser. “Misers are muckworms.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) Any hairy caterpillar which appears in great numbers, devouring herbage, and wandering about like a palmer. The name is applied also to other voracious insects. Joel. i. 4. (b) In America, the larva of any one of several moths, which destroys the foliage of fruit and forest trees, esp. the larva of Ypsolophus pometellus, which sometimes appears in vast numbers. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ n., or }. [ From native name. ] (Zool.) A polystome worm (Palolo viridis) that burrows in the coral reefs of certain of the Pacific Islands. A little before the last quarter of the moon in October and November, they swarm in vast numbers at the surface of the sea for breeding, and are gathered and highly esteemed as food by the natives. An allied species inhabits the tropical Atlantic and swarms in June or July. In the 1890 Webster, called palola and Palola viridis. A misspelling? [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Zool.) The teredo. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any myriapod of the genus Iulus and allied genera which rolls up spirally; a galleyworm. See Illust. under Myriapod. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A small nematoid worm (Oxyurus vermicularis), which is parasitic chiefly in the rectum of man. It is most common in children and aged persons. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) A contagious affection of the skin due to the presence of a vegetable parasite, and forming ring-shaped discolored patches covered with vesicles or powdery scales. It occurs either on the body, the face, or the scalp. Different varieties are distinguished as Tinea circinata, Tinea tonsurans, etc., but all are caused by the same parasite (a species of Trichophyton). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The larva of any one of several species of lepidopterous insects which feed upon the leaves, buds, or blossoms of the rose, especially Cacaecia rosaceana, which rolls up the leaves for a nest, and devours both the leaves and buds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A nematoid worm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) Any one of numerous species of annelids which burrow in the sand of the seashore. (b) Any species of annelids of the genus Sabellaria. They construct firm tubes of agglutinated sand on rocks and shells, and are sometimes destructive to oysters. (c) The chigoe, a species of flea. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) A European species of wormwood (Artemisia maritima) growing by the sea. [ 1913 Webster ]