horsehair worm

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noun

any long, slender worm of the phylum Nematomorpha, developing parasitically on insects and crustaceans, and free-living as adults in streams and ponds.

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Also called gordian worm, nematomorph.

Origin of horsehair worm

First recorded in 1745–55

Words nearby horsehair worm

Horse Guards, horsehair, horsehair-blight fungus, horsehair fungus, horsehair toadstool, horsehair worm, horsehead, Horsehead Nebula, horsehide, horse latitudes, horselaugh

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use horsehair worm in a sentence

And the other is what is called a horsehair worm that overtakes the bodies of insects.
Vampires without Glitter or Girl Problems: Inside Guillermo del Toro’s ‘The Strain’|Andrew Romano|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Who knew, by the way, that The Carter Center has wiped out guinea worm just about everywhere in Africa but South Sudan?
Don’t Run for President, Hillary. Become a ‘Post-President’ Instead|Tina Brown|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So, Grey Worm arms the slaves of Meereen, who outnumber the citizens three-to-one.
Game of Thrones’ ‘Oathkeeper’: Joffrey’s Killer Revealed, White Walkers, and A New Jaime Lannister|Marlow Stern|April 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you like mammal species from the suborder Vermilingua (meaning "worm tongue")...
The March Madness Teams to Cheer If Yours Got Bounced|Ben Teitelbaum|March 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It appeared The Worm had turned, even though his ignorance remained wrong side up.
Ping-Pong Diplomacy Not An Option? Try Ding-Dong Diplomacy|Kevin Bleyer|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Although everybody laughed at such a notion, the Worm-eating Warbler declared that he had a right to his own belief.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
It was no worm that Mrs. Robin had found, but Grandfather Mole's hairless tail sticking out of the ground.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
For Mrs. Robin had an end of a pinkish-white worm in her bill, on which she was tugging as hard as she could.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
When he was interviewed, fearsome in manner as he was, he sent the worm away packed with ideas and phrases.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
It also has an enemy, a small worm that forms in its body and gradually eats it up.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade

British Dictionary definitions for horsehair worm

horsehair worm

noun

another name for hairworm (def. 2)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012