Where does “toþwyrm” come from?

toþwyrm (Old English) comes 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.

toþwyrm (Old English): a worm in one's tooth

Definitions

  1. a worm in one's tooth

Ancestry of “toþwyrm”, step by step

toþwyrm traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old English wyrm

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishwyrmcreeping insect; maggot, grub, worm; snake,...
2Old Englishlēahmeadow; clearing with a pigsty; woodland,...
3Proto-West Germaniclauhclearing; meadow
4Proto-Germaniclauhazclearing; meadow
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlówkosclearing; open space, clearing; field, meadow
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlewḱ-lynx
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlewk-bright; to shine; to see

via Old English tōþ

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishtōþtooth
2Proto-Germanictanþstooth
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃dóntstooth
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ed-to eat
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewk-Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European lówkos