Where does “thunderworm” come from?

thunderworm (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.

thunderworm (English): A small burrowing snake-like lizard native to...

Definitions

  1. A small burrowing snake-like lizard native to...

Ancestry of “thunderworm”, step by step

thunderworm 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 thunder

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishthunderThe loud rumbling, cracking, or crashing sound...
2Middle EnglishthunderAlternative form of thonder
3Old EnglishÞunorthe Anglo-Saxon god of thunder, equivalent to Old Norse Þórr and Old High German Donar
4Proto-West Germanicþunrthunder
5Proto-GermanicÞunrazThor, god of thunder
6Proto-Indo-European(s)ten-to thunder, rustle, rumble, drone, groan; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewk-Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European lówkos