whirl-worm
(ˈhwɜːlwɜːm)
Also 7 whurl(e-.
[f. whirl- + worm n.]
† 1. An insect larva destructive to plants. Obs.
In quot. 1643 tr. L. convolvulus a caterpillar that rolls itself up in a leaf; in quot. 1658 tr. mod.L. verticillus, Gr. σϕονδύλη.
| 1643 Horn & Rob. Gate Lang. Unl. (1650) xix. §217 Earth⁓worms gnaw upon muck-hils.., moths on garments,..whirl⁓worms [margin, The divels gold-ring] on vines. 1658 Rowland tr. Moufet's Theat. Ins. 1042 The Northern English call it Andever; the Southern, Whurlworm, that is, a Whirl or little hairy Worm with many feet:..I..collect..that there are two kindes of Whurlworms; one about houses, another in the fields. |
2. A turbellarian worm. rare—0. (? An error.)
| 1891 in Cent. Dict. |