What is the Latin word for worm?

The usual Latin words for “worm” are vermis, vermiculus, lytta; also mordeō, stimulus, cruciō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“worm” in Latin

vermisa worm vermiculusa disease of dogs which drives them mad.; the scarlet worm for coccum (“scarlet color”).lyttaA worm said to cause madness to dogs mordeōto bite (into); nibble, gnaw; to nip, sting; to eat, consume, devour, erode stimulusa goad, prick; a sting; stimulus, incentive cruciōto crucify; to torture curculiōweevil tineaa destructive insect larva that attacks household items such as books or clothing; larva, maggot, caterpillar; moth terēdōwoodworm, boring-worm, wood-fretter; moth lumbrīcusearthworm; intestinal worm

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

worm

PROP., vermis (general term); diminutive, vermiculus (Plin.): curculio (in grain): tinea (that eats books, clothes, etc.): teredo (that eats wood, clothes, etc.); (vermis) lumbricus (Cels.); *lumbricus teres (Linn.; in the human body): the worms (as a disease), verminatio: to have worms, verminare: full of worms, verminosus (Plin.). [Vid: also, GLOW-WORM, SILK-WORM.]

Figuratively. Ligament under a dog’s tongue, vermiculus; lytta (Plin.): to cut out this worm, lyttam exsecare.

The thread of a screw, Greek περικόχλιον (no term in Latin).

Anything tormenting, aegritudo animum exedens (of grief); morsus, stimuli, cruciatus (conscientiae).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for worm?: The usual Latin words for “worm” are vermis, vermiculus, lytta; also mordeō, stimulus, cruciō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.