earthworms

Noun

earthworm (plural earthworms)

1. A worm that lives in the ground.
   • It does not, however, happen that the whole spermatosphere is converted into spermatoblasts; there remains a passive portion, which in the earthworm occupies a central position; this is the "sperm-blasophore," or "blastophoral cell."1880, Journal of Microscopy, volume 3

   Synonyms:

   rainworm, groundworm, wiggler, red worm, red wiggler, nightwalker, nightcrawler, dew worm

2. A worm of the family Lumbricidae, or, more generally, of the suborder Lumbricina.
   • Before the study was begun, the known oligochaete fauna of Tasmania consisted of six species of aquatic microdriles, twenty-three indigenous species of megascolecid earthworms, and introduced earthworms of the family Lumbricidae.1975, Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Zoology, volume 26, page 205
3. (figuratively) A contemptible person; a groveller.