Where does “brainworm” come from?

brainworm (English) comes from English Worm, from Middle English worm, from Old English wyrm, from Old English lēah, from Proto-West Germanic lauh, from Proto-Germanic lauhaz, from Proto-Indo-European lówkos, from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ- — bright; to shine; to see.

brainworm (English): A neurotropic nematode parasite (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis)

Definitions

  1. A neurotropic nematode parasite (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis)

Ancestry of “brainworm”, step by step

brainworm traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Worm

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWormA generally tubular invertebrate of the annelid phylum; an earthworm
2Middle EnglishwormA worm or similar small wormlike animal that...
3Old Englishwyrmcreeping insect; maggot, grub, worm; snake,...
4Old Englishlēahmeadow; clearing with a pigsty; woodland,...
5Proto-West Germaniclauhclearing; meadow
6Proto-Germaniclauhazclearing; meadow
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlówkosclearing; open space, clearing; field, meadow
8Proto-Indo-Europeanlewḱ-lynx
9Proto-Indo-Europeanlewk-bright; to shine; to see

via English brain

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbrainThe control center of the central nervous system...
2Middle EnglishbraynThe brain or cerebrum; the organ of thought;...
3Old Englishbræġnbrain
4Proto-West Germanic*bragnbrain
5Proto-Germanicbragnąbrain
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmregʰnomskull, brain
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewk-Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European lówkos
brainworm — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer