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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Chenopodium anthelminticum

Worm \Worm\ (w[^u]rm), n. [OE. worm, wurm, AS. wyrm; akin to D. worm, OS. & G. wurm, Icel. ormr, Sw. & Dan. orm, Goth. wa['u]rms, L. vermis, Gr. ? a wood worm. Cf. Vermicelli, Vermilion, Vermin.]

  1. A creeping or a crawling animal of any kind or size, as a serpent, caterpillar, snail, or the like. [Archaic]

    There came a viper out of the heat, and leapt on his hand. When the men of the country saw the worm hang on his hand, they said, This man must needs be a murderer.
    --Tyndale (Acts xxviii. 3, 4).

    'T is slander, Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue Outvenoms all the worms of Nile.
    --Shak.

    When Cerberus perceived us, the great worm, His mouth he opened and displayed his tusks.
    --Longfellow.

  2. Any small creeping animal or reptile, either entirely without feet, or with very short ones, including a great variety of animals; as, an earthworm; the blindworm. Specifically: (Zo["o]l.)

    1. Any helminth; an entozo["o]n.

    2. Any annelid.

    3. An insect larva.

    4. pl. Same as Vermes.

  3. An internal tormentor; something that gnaws or afflicts one's mind with remorse.

    The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul!
    --Shak.

  4. A being debased and despised.

    I am a worm, and no man.
    --Ps. xxii. 6.

  5. Anything spiral, vermiculated, or resembling a worm; as:

    1. The thread of a screw.

      The threads of screws, when bigger than can be made in screw plates, are called worms.
      --Moxon.

    2. A spiral instrument or screw, often like a double corkscrew, used for drawing balls from firearms.

    3. (Anat.) A certain muscular band in the tongue of some animals, as the dog; the lytta. See Lytta.

    4. The condensing tube of a still, often curved and wound to economize space. See Illust. of Still.

    5. (Mach.) A short revolving screw, the threads of which drive, or are driven by, a worm wheel by gearing into its teeth or cogs. See Illust. of Worm gearing, below. Worm abscess (Med.), an abscess produced by the irritation resulting from the lodgment of a worm in some part of the body. Worm fence. See under Fence. Worm gear. (Mach.)

      1. A worm wheel.

      2. Worm gearing. Worm gearing, gearing consisting of a worm and worm wheel working together. Worm grass. (Bot.)

        1. See Pinkroot, 2 (a) .

        2. The white stonecrop ( Sedum album) reputed to have qualities as a vermifuge.
          --Dr. Prior.

          Worm oil (Med.), an anthelmintic consisting of oil obtained from the seeds of Chenopodium anthelminticum.

          Worm powder (Med.), an anthelmintic powder.

          Worm snake. (Zo["o]l.) See Thunder snake (b), under Thunder.

          Worm tea (Med.), an anthelmintic tea or tisane.

          Worm tincture (Med.), a tincture prepared from dried earthworms, oil of tartar, spirit of wine, etc. [Obs.]

          Worm wheel, a cogwheel having teeth formed to fit into the spiral spaces of a screw called a worm, so that the wheel may be turned by, or may turn, the worm; -- called also worm gear, and sometimes tangent wheel. See Illust. of Worm gearing, above.

Chenopodium anthelminticum

Wormseed \Worm"seed`\, n. (Bot.) Any one of several plants, as Artemisia santonica, and Chenopodium anthelminticum, whose seeds have the property of expelling worms from the stomach and intestines.

Wormseed mustard, a slender, cruciferous plant ( Erysinum cheiranthoides) having small lanceolate leaves.