Where does “gapeworm” come from?
gapeworm (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.
gapeworm (English): A parasitic nematode worm, Syngamus trachea, that...
Definitions
- A parasitic nematode worm, Syngamus trachea, that...
Ancestry of “gapeworm”, step by step
gapeworm traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Worm
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Worm | A generally tubular invertebrate of the annelid phylum; an earthworm |
| 2 | Middle English | worm | A worm or similar small wormlike animal that... |
| 3 | Old English | wyrm | creeping insect; maggot, grub, worm; snake,... |
| 4 | Old English | lēah | meadow; clearing with a pigsty; woodland,... |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | lauh | clearing; meadow |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | lauhaz | clearing; meadow |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lówkos | clearing; open space, clearing; field, meadow |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | lewḱ- | lynx |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |
via English gape
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | gape | To open the mouth wide, especially involuntarily,... |
| 2 | Middle English | gapen | — |
| 3 | Old Norse | gapa | to gape, open the mouth wide |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | gapōną | to gaze, observe |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰeh₁y- | to yawn, gape; to gape, be wide open; to gape,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰih₁- | — |