measuring worm

American  

[mezh-er-ing wurm] / ˈmɛʒ ər ɪŋ ˌwɜrm /

Or measuringworm

noun

Older Use.

1. inchworm.

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measuring worm British  

noun

1. Also called: looper.   inchworm.  the larva of a geometrid moth: it has legs on its front and rear segments only and moves in a series of loops

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Etymology

Origin of measuring worm

An Americanism first recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Kate inched over her own thoughts like a measuring worm.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

After a hard fight, in the course of which I was stung twice, I unseated the trio and took the measuring worm away from them.

From Jungle Peace by Beebe, William

The Little Doctor watched a pale green "measuring worm" loop its way hurriedly along the floor of the porch.

From Chip, of the Flying U by Russell, Charles M.

And therefore the rock was named for the measuring worm, and was called Tu-tok-a-nu´-la.

From Indians of the Yosemite Valley and Vicinity Their History, Customs and Traditions by Clark, Galen

The newly hatched boll worm walks like a geometrical larva or looper, a measuring worm as it was called.

From Thirty Years a Slave by Hughes, Louis