blindworm

[blahynd-wurm]

noun

1. a limbless European lizard, Anguis fragilis, related to the glass lizards.

2. a caecilian, Ichthyophis glutinosus, of Sri Lanka, that coils around its eggs.

blindworm

/ ˈblaɪndˌwɜːm /

noun

1. another name for slowworm

Word History and Origins

Origin of blindworm¹

1425–75; late Middle English; blind, worm; so called because the eyes are very small

Example Sentences

The children are photographed running, climbing, playing hide and seek, bathing in the mud, jumping into water and examining cats, toads, frogs and blindworms.

Read more on The Guardian

Snakes have a long tongue, split for some distance, and made double-forked; the blindworm's tongue has nothing but a little notch upon the tip.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

The walls where hung the warrior's shining casque Are green with moss and mould; The blindworm coils where Queens have slept, nor asks For shelter from the cold.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

I occasionally saw a snake, but always of the harmless, blindworm variety.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

You spotted snakes with double tongue, Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen; Newts and blindworms do no wrong, Come not near our Fairy Queen.

Read more on Project Gutenberg