hairworm

[ hair-wurm ]

noun

1. any small, slender worm of the family Trichostrongylidae, parasitic in the alimentary canals of various animals.

hairworm

/ ˈhɛəˌwɜːm /

noun

1. any hairlike nematode worm of the family Trichostrongylidae, such as the stomach worm, parasitic in the intestines of vertebrates
2. Also calledhorsehair worm any very thin long worm of the phylum (or class) Nematomorpha, the larvae of which are parasitic in arthropods

Word History and Origins

Origin of hairworm¹

First recorded in 1650–60; hair + worm

Example Sentences

Here, too, comes that "hairworm" (Gordius), which most country folks call "hair eel" or "hair snake."

From Project Gutenberg