lungworm

[ luhng-wurm ]

noun

1. any nematode worm of the superfamily Metastrongylidae, parasitic in the lungs of various mammals.
2. a nematode worm of the genus Rhabdias, parasitic in the lungs of reptiles and amphibians.

lungworm

/ ˈlʌŋˌwɜːm /

noun

1. any parasitic nematode worm of the family Metastrongylidae, occurring in the lungs of mammals, esp Metastrongylus apri which infects pigs
2. any of certain other nematodes that are parasitic in the lungs

Word History and Origins

Origin of lungworm¹

First recorded in 1880–85; lung + worm