Where does “spindleworm” come from?
spindleworm (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.
spindleworm (English): The larva of a noctuid moth which feeds inside...
Definitions
- The larva of a noctuid moth which feeds inside...
Ancestry of “spindleworm”, step by step
spindleworm 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 spindle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | spindle | A rod used for spinning and then winding natural... |
| 2 | Middle English | spyndel | A spindle; An rod that objects revolve around; a... |
| 3 | Old English | spinel | spindle |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | spinnilu | spindle |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | spinnan | to spin |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | spinnaną | to spin |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)pénh₁-ne- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)penh₁- | to twist; to weave |