Where does “cutworm” come from?

cutworm (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.

cutworm (English): The larva of any of many moths of the family...

Definitions

  1. The larva of any of many moths of the family...

Ancestry of “cutworm”, step by step

cutworm 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 CUT

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishCUTTo incise, to cut into the surface of something
2Middle Englishcutten
3Old Norsekytjahovel, small cottage
4Proto-Germanickutjanąto cut
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewk-