ˈmalt-worm
† 1. A weevil which infests malt. Obs.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 46/1 Bowde, malte-worme (P. boude of malte), gurgulio. |
2. transf. One who loves malt-liquor; a toper.
| c 1550 Drinking Song in Skelton's Wks. (1843) I. p. x, Then dothe she troule To me the bolle As a goode malte worme sholde. 1580 G. Harvey Three Lett. 29 A morning bookeworm, an afternoone maltworm. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. i. 83 Mustachio-purple-hu'd Maltwormes. 1605 Tryall Chev. iii. i, The whorson Mault-worm has a throat like the burning Clyme. 1859 R. F. Burton Centr. Afr. in Jrnl. Geog. Soc. XXIX. 367 Many a gallon must be drunk by the veteran maltworm before intoxication. 1876 Whitby Gloss., Maut-worm, a lover of beer. |
† 3. = maltlong. Obs. rare—1.
| 1610 [see maltlong]. |