fishworm

[fish-wurm]

noun

Chiefly New England and Northern and Midland U.S.

1. an earthworm.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fishworm¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; fish + worm

Example Sentences

We have all known him well from boyhood by several names—angleworm, fishworm, earthworm.

From Project Gutenberg

"What you got last night, sonny, was for your own sake, but this time it's going to be for Frances'—you fishworm!"

From Project Gutenberg

They are the earthworms, also called fishworms, which are distributed all over the world.

From Project Gutenberg

"I never thought to ask him about Minervy," occurred to her while she was relentlessly dragging pale, fleshly fishworms from the loose black soil of Marthy's onion bed.

From Project Gutenberg

There he was talking away to us fishworms just as cordially as if he enjoyed it.

From Project Gutenberg