blindworm

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blindworm

A blindworm slowly moves through the damp leaf litter.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A legless lizard: A small, burrowing, legless European lizard (Anguis fragilis) with very tiny eyes. It is often mistakenly believed to be blind.
    • A caecilian: Any of the small, slender, limbless, burrowing, worm-like amphibians belonging to the order Gymnophiona, which inhabit moist soil in tropical regions.
Usage Examples
  • Noun (Legless Lizard):
    • We found a blindworm under the log; it's actually a lizard, not a snake.
    • Despite its name, the blindworm is not a worm and is not truly blind.
  • Noun (Caecilian):
    • The biologist studied a blindworm from the Amazon, a fascinating amphibian that lives underground.
    • Caecilians, sometimes called blindworms, are rarely seen because of their subterranean lifestyle.
Advanced Usage
  • The term "blindworm" is an example of a common name that can refer to two very different types of animals (a reptile and an amphibian), which can cause confusion. Scientific names ( for the lizard, for the amphibians) are used for clarity.
  • In folklore, the blindworm (the lizard) was once thought to be venomous or to have a poisonous sting, which is also a misconception.
Variants and Related Words
  • Slowworm: This is the more common modern name for the legless lizard , especially in British English. It is preferred to avoid the incorrect implication of blindness.
  • Caecilian: The scientific and more precise term for the amphibian referred to as a blindworm.
  • Limbless lizard: A descriptive term for reptiles like the slowworm/blindworm.
Synonyms
  • For the lizard: Slowworm, glass snake (in some contexts, though "glass snake" often refers to different legless lizards).
  • For the amphibian: Caecilian, apodan.
Notes on Meaning
  • The primary meaning of "blindworm" in general English, particularly in European contexts, is the legless lizard ( or slowworm).
  • The use of "blindworm" for caecilians is more specialized, typically found in zoological or historical contexts. The common name arises from their superficial, worm-like appearance and reduced eyes.
blindworm

A blindworm slowly moves through the damp leaf litter.

Noun
  1. any of the small slender limbless burrowing wormlike amphibians of the order Gymnophiona; inhabit moist soil in tropical regions
  2. small burrowing legless European lizard with tiny eyes; popularly believed to be blind

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