slowworm

English

Alternative forms
  • slow worm, slow-worm

Etymology

From Middle English sloworm (possibly influenced by slow), from Old English slāwyrm. Possibly related to Swedish slå (“earthworm”)

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈsləʊwɜː(ɹ)m/
  • Audio (UK)(file)

Noun

slowworm (plural slowworms)

  1. A small Old World lizard, Anguis fragilis, often mistaken for a snake, having no legs and small eyes.

Synonyms

Translations

References
  • 2008, Anatoly Liberman, An Analytic Dictionary of English Etymology: An Introduction, pages 196-200
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