Where does “wyrm” come from?

wyrm (Middle English) comes 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-, from Proto-Indo-European lewk- — bright; to shine; to see.

wyrm (Middle English): Alternative form of worm

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of worm

Ancestry of “wyrm”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishwormA worm or similar small wormlike animal that...
2Old Englishwyrmcreeping insect; maggot, grub, worm; snake,...
3Old Englishlēahmeadow; clearing with a pigsty; woodland,...
4Proto-West Germaniclauhclearing; meadow
5Proto-Germaniclauhazclearing; meadow
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlówkosclearing; open space, clearing; field, meadow
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlewḱ-lynx
8Proto-Indo-Europeanlewk-bright; to shine; to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewk-Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European lówkos