English

groundworm

ground + worm

A compound of ground + worm

Proto-Indo-European *gʰrem- ‘floor, settlement’

Proto-Germanic *grunduz ‘ground, foundation’

Proto-West Germanic *grundu

Old English grund

Middle English ground

Proto-Indo-European *wr̥mis

Proto-Germanic *wurmiz

Proto-West Germanic *wurmi

Old English weorm

Middle English werm

English worm

Today it means

noun earthworm

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / groundworm