An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Wurm

by Friedrich Kluge

Wurm, masculine, ‘worm, grub,’ from Middle High German and Old High German wurm, ‘worm, insect, serpent, dragon’; compare Gothic waûrms, ‘serpent,’ Old Saxon wurm, ‘serpent,’ Dutch and English worm. The meaning of the common Teutonic word varies between ‘worm’ and ‘serpent’ (compare Lindwurm). The former occurs in the primitively allied Latin vermis, ‘worm,’ with which Greek ῥόμος (ῥόμοξ for ϝρομο-), ‘wood-worm,’ is related by gradation. Sanscrit kṛmi, ‘worm,’ Lithuanian kirmėlě and Old Irish cruim (OSlov črŭvĭ), ‘worm,’ are not connected with this word; nor is Greek ἕλμις, ‘maw-worm,’ related to it. —