different between earthworm vs redworm

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

From red +? worm.

Noun

redworm (plural redworms)

1. A type of small, reddish earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus, used as bait in angling; also, in later use, the brandling, Eisenia foetida. [from 15th c.]
   • 1970, Donald Harington, Lightning Bug:

     It could have been that you rose just before dawn and quickly tended your chores then dug a bucket of redworms out of the compost pile and pulled your cane pole out from under the porch and took off, up the creek.

2. A parasitic worm of the family Strongylidae, which causes anaemia in many vertebrates. [from 19th c.]