slowworm

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English sloworm (possibly influenced by slow), from Old English slāwyrm (“slow-worm, blindworm”), from *slā (related to Norwegian slo (“slow-worm”), Swedish slå (“slow-worm”)) + wyrm (“worm, snake”). Compare Swedish ormslå.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈsləʊwɜː(ɹ)m/
  • Audio (UK)(file)

Noun

slowworm (plural slowworms)

  1. A small Old World lizard, Anguis fragilis, often mistaken for a snake, having no legs and small eyes.
    Synonym: blindworm
    Hypernym: lizard

Translations

References
  • Anatoly Liberman (2008) An Analytic Dictionary of English Etymology: An Introduction, pages 196-200

Further reading
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