WORM

Definitions for the word, worm

(n.) A being debased and despised.

(n.) A certain muscular band in the tongue of some animals, as the dog; the lytta. See Lytta.

(n.) A creeping or a crawling animal of any kind or size, as a serpent, caterpillar, snail, or the like.

(n.) A short revolving screw, the threads of which drive, or are driven by, a worm wheel by gearing into its teeth or cogs. See Illust. of Worm gearing, below.

(n.) A spiral instrument or screw, often like a double corkscrew, used for drawing balls from firearms.

(n.) An insect larva.

(n.) An internal tormentor; something that gnaws or afflicts one's mind with remorse.

(n.) Any annelid.

(n.) Any helminth; an entozoon.

(n.) Any small creeping animal or reptile, either entirely without feet, or with very short ones, including a great variety of animals; as, an earthworm; the blindworm.

(n.) Anything spiral, vermiculated, or resembling a worm

(n.) Same as Vermes.

(n.) The condensing tube of a still, often curved and wound to economize space. See Illust. of Still.

(n.) The thread of a screw.

(n.) To cut the worm, or lytta, from under the tongue of, as a dog, for the purpose of checking a disposition to gnaw. The operation was formerly supposed to guard against canine madness.

(n.) To wind rope, yarn, or other material, spirally round, between the strands of, as a cable; to wind with spun yarn, as a small rope.

(v. i.) To work slowly, gradually, and secretly.

(v. t.) To clean by means of a worm; to draw a wad or cartridge from, as a firearm. See Worm, n. 5 (b).

(v. t.) To effect, remove, drive, draw, or the like, by slow and secret means; -- often followed by out.