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pickleworm

American  
[pik-uhl-wurm] / ˈpɪk əlˌwɜrm /

noun

  1. the larva of a pyralid moth, Diaphania nitidalis, that bores into the stem and fruit of squash, cucumber, and other cucurbitaceous plants.

Etymology

Origin of pickleworm

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; pickle 1 + worm

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Peach started out with a set of basic problems and pests that plague many farmers here: Drought, pickleworm, melon fly and powdery mildew.

From Washington Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.