Where does “oorworm” come from?
oorworm (Dutch) comes from Dutch oor, from Middle Dutch ore, from Old Dutch ōra, from Proto-West Germanic auʀā, from Proto-Germanic ausô, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ṓws, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew- — to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be...
oorworm (Dutch): earwig
Definitions
- earwig
Ancestry of “oorworm”, step by step
oorworm traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Dutch oor
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | oor | ear; handle |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | ore | ear |
| 3 | Old Dutch | ōra | ear |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | auʀā | ear |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | ausô | ear |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ṓws | ear |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ew- | to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be... |
via Dutch worm
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | worm | worm, vernacular term for various, mostly legless... |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | worm | — |
| 3 | Old Dutch | wurm | worm |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | wurmi | worm; serpent, snake |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wurmiz | worm; serpent, snake |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wr̥mis | worm |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |