English

hornworm

From horn + worm.

A compound of horn + worm

Middle English horn

English horn

Proto-Indo-European *wr̥mis

Proto-Germanic *wurmiz

Proto-West Germanic *wurmi

Old English weorm

Middle English werm

English worm

Today it means

noun A caterpillar of a hawk moth that has a hornlike tail process.

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

Etymograph / hornworm