English
hagworm
Hagworm comes from Middle English hagworme ‘viper’, and goes back to Old Norse hǫggormr ‘serpent’.
- Old Norsec. 800–1350hǫggormr‘serpent’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500hagworme‘viper’
- Englishtodayhagworm
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Norsec. 800–1350hǫggormr‘serpent’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500hagworme‘viper’
- Englishtodayhagworm
A compound of hǫgg ‘stroke, blow’ + ormr ‘worm, snake’
Proto-Germanic *hawwą
Proto-Norse *hagwa
Old Norse hǫgg ‘stroke, blow’
Proto-Indo-European *wer- ‘to turn, to bend’
Proto-Indo-European *wr̥mis ‘worm’
Proto-Germanic *wurmiz ‘worm’
Proto-Norse *urmiz
Old Norse ormr ‘worm, snake’
Every English word from Old Norse hǫggormr
Today it means
noun A common snake, such as an adder or a viper.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old Norse hǫggormr / hagworm