different between earthworm vs nightcrawler

English

Etymology

From Middle English erthe-worm, erþe-worm, erþe worm (also as worm of þe erthe, worm of þe erþe), equivalent to earth +? worm. Compare Saterland Frisian Äidwurm (“earthworm”), West Frisian ierdwjirm (“earthworm”), Dutch aardworm (“earthworm”), less common German Erdwurm (“earthworm”).

Pronunciation

Noun

earthworm (plural earthworms)

1. A worm that lives in the ground.
2. A worm of the family Lumbricidae, or, more generally, of the suborder Lumbricina.
3. (figuratively) A contemptible person; a groveller.

Synonyms

• (a ground-living worm): rainworm, groundworm; wiggler, red worm, red wiggler (Southern US); nightwalker (New England); nightcrawler (Northern US, Western US); dew worm (US Great Lakes region, Canada)

Hyponyms

• (a ground-living worm): baitworm; fishworm (Northern US, Central US); angleworm (Northern US); fishing worm (Southern US) - fish bait

Translations

References

• earthworm in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• earthworm at OneLook Dictionary Search
• Earthworm on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• heartworm

English

Etymology

night +? crawler

Noun

nightcrawler (plural nightcrawlers)

1. An earthworm of the species Lumbricus terrestris, known for its large size and nocturnal surfacings.
2. (chiefly Northern US, Western US) More generally, any arbitrarily large earthworm, especially those favored in angling

Translations

References

• Lumbricus terrestris on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Lumbricus terrestris on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• Lumbricus terrestris on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons