slowworm

[ sloh-wurm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

blindworm ( def 2 ).

slowworm

/ ˈsləʊˌwɜːm /

noun

a Eurasian legless lizard, Anguis fragilis, with a brownish-grey snakelike body: family Anguidae Also calledblindworm

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Word History and Origins

Origin of slowworm¹

before 900; slow + worm; replacing Middle English slowerm, slowurme, Old English slāwerm, slāwyrm, equivalent to slā- (compare dialectal Swedish slo, Norwegian slō slowworm) + wyrm worm

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Example Sentences

A silvery creature like a slowworm came crawling out from among them, slowly crossed the clay floor, and crept into the fire.

From Project Gutenberg

Since then a large silvery slowworm was killed just there—a great pity, for they are perfectly harmless.

From Project Gutenberg

But the blindworm, or slowworm, as this creature is called, is perfectly harmless.

From Project Gutenberg

They are wrong; and they must be told that they are wrong, and scolded if they kill a slowworm.

From Project Gutenberg

slow-witted sloyd

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