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spanworm

American  
[span-wurm] / ˈspænˌwɜrm /

noun

Older Use.

  1. inchworm.

Etymology

Origin of spanworm

An Americanism first recorded in 1810–20; span 1 + worm

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This coating seems to protect the caterpillar from the sparrow, with the result that Philadelphia's trees were soon nearly defoliated by this comparatively new pest, worse than the spanworm.

From The Meaning of Evolution by Schmucker, Samuel Christian

She had long been troubled with the spanworm on her trees.

From The Meaning of Evolution by Schmucker, Samuel Christian

Insects.—The rosebug, spanworm, great greenworm, and many other insects, infest grapevines, and do much injury.

From Soil Culture by Walden, J. H.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.