Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WORM, n. [Sax. wyrm; G. wurm; D. worm; Dan. orm; Sw. id. a serpent. This word is probably named from a winding motion, and the root of swarm.]

1. In common usage, any small creeping animal, or reptile, either entirely without feet, or with very short ones, including a great variety of animals of different classes and orders, viz. certain small serpents, as the blind-worm or slowworm; the larvas of insects, viz. grubs, caterpillars and maggots, as the wood-worm, canker-worm, silk-worm, (the larva of a moth [Phalæna,] which spins the filaments of which silk is made,) the grub that injures corn, grass, &c., worms that breed in putrid flesh, the bots in the stomach of horses, and many others; certain wingless insects, as the glow-worm; the intestinal worms, or such as breed in the cavities and organs of living animals, as the tape-worm, the round-worm, the fluke, &c.; and numerous animals found in the earth, and in water, particularly in the sea, as the earth-worm or lumbricus, the hair-worm or gordius, the teredo, or worm that bores into the bottom of ships, &c. Worms, in the plural, in common usage, is used for intestinal worms, or those which breed in the stomach and bowels, particularly the round and thread worms, (ascarides and oxyurides,) which are often found there in great numbers; as we say, a child has worms.
2. In zoology, the term Vermes or worms has been applied to different divisions of invertebral animals, by different naturalists. Linnæus's class of Vermes, includes the following orders, viz. Intestina, including the proper intestinal worms, the earth-worm, the hair-worm, the teredo, and some other marine worms; Mollusc; including the slug, and numerous soft animals inhabiting the water, particularly the sea; Testacea, including all the proper shell-fish; Zoophyta, or compound animals, including corals, polypes, and spunges; and Infusoria, or simple microscopic animacules. His character of the class is, – spiracles obscure, jaws various, organs of sense usually tentacula, no brain, ears nor nostrils, limbs wanting, frequently hermaphrodite. This class includes all the invertebral animals, except the insects and erustacra. The term Vermes has been since greatly limited, particularly by the French naturalists. Lamarck confined it to the intestinal worms, and some others, whose organization is equally simple. The character of his class is, suboviparous, body soft, highly reproductive, undergo no metamorphosis; no eyes, nor articulated limbs, nor radiated disposition of internal organs. – Linnæus. Lye.
3. Remorse; that which incessantly gnaws the conscience; that which torments. Where their worm dieth not. – Mark ix.
4. A being debased and despised. I am a worm, and no man. – Ps. xxii.
5. A spiral instrument or iron screw, used for drawing wads and cartridges from cannon or small arms.
6. Something spiral, vermiculated, or resembling a worm; as, the threads of a screw. – Moxon.
7. In chimistry and distilleries, a spiral leaden pipe placed in a tub of water, through which the vapor passes in distillation, and in which it is cooled and condensed. It is called also a serpentine.
8. A small wormlike part situated beneath a dog's tongue. – Cyc.