Where does “flatworm” come from?

flatworm (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.

flatworm (English): Any of very many parasitic or free-living worms,...

Definitions

  1. Any of very many parasitic or free-living worms,...

Ancestry of “flatworm”, step by step

flatworm 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 flat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishflatHaving no variations in height; Without...
2Scotsfletinner part of a house
3Middle Englishfletthe floor, ground; a dwelling, habitation, house,...
4Old Englishfletthe floor, ground; a dwelling, habitation, house,...
5Proto-Germanicflatjąa level surface; level ground; the floor of a...
6Proto-Germanicflatazflat
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanplÁt-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewk-Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European lówkos