Animalscaretips
The origin of the idiom “bookworm” probably originated as a somewhat derogatory term for a person who studied or read more than was usual. Bugs such as silverfish, book lice, and linoleum beetles were referred to as bookworms because they inhabited books; thus the idiom.
- When was the term bookworm first used?
- Who invented the word bookworm?
- Where do bookworms come from?
- What do you call a bookworm?
- Where does the word savant come from?
- Does the speaker mind being called a bookworm?
- How do book worms enter a book?
- What do you call a person who loves reading books?
- Can silverfish bite you?
- Do bookworms still exist?
- Are Booklice harmful?
- Is bookworm an insult?
- What is a reader called?
- What do you call a person that reads in bed?
When was the term bookworm first used?
The first known use of bookworm was in 1580.
Who invented the word bookworm?
The First “Bookworm”
The earliest documented appearance of the word bookworm, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is in 1580. It appears in Three Proper and Witty Familiar Letters, a series of correspondences between scholar Gabriel Harvey and poet Edmund Spenser.
Where do bookworms come from?
Often, the larvae of various types of insects including beetles, moths and cockroaches, which may bore or chew through books seeking food, are responsible. Some such larvae exhibit a superficial resemblance to worms and are the likely inspiration for the term, though they are not true worms.
What do you call a bookworm?
What are some synonyms for bookworm? bibliophile. bibliophage. voracious reader. avid reader.
Where does the word savant come from?
In 1887, 'idiot' was an accepted classification for persons with an IQ below 25, and 'savant', or 'knowledgeable person', was derived from the French word savoir meaning 'to know'.
Does the speaker mind being called a bookworm?
Answer: No, as per my opinion, the speaker does not mind on getting called a bookworm by his mother.
How do book worms enter a book?
They tunnel through books, at times all the way from front cover to back, leaving holes on every page. ... The actual culprits are not really worms at all but most likely beetles or beetle larvae, attracted by leather bindings or the wooden shelves the books are kept on.
What do you call a person who loves reading books?
Bibliophilia or bibliophilism is the love of books. A bibliophile or bookworm is an individual who loves and frequently reads books.
Can silverfish bite you?
Although silverfish have a creepy appearance and are occasionally mistaken for venomous centipedes, silverfish are not known to bite humans and do not carry diseases. ... While silverfish are harmless to the human body, they do cause damage to clothing, books, papers, food in pantries and wallpaper.
Do bookworms still exist?
No single species may properly be called the bookworm because a large number of insects feed upon dry, starchy material or paper and may damage books. Among the most widely known bookworms are the silverfish (order Thysanura) and the booklice (order Psocoptera). Termites and roaches are also frequently guilty.
Are Booklice harmful?
No. They are not harmful to humans. Unlike true lice, they do not feed on blood. This gives them no desire to bite humans.
Is bookworm an insult?
Originally, 'bookworm' was an entirely negative term: 'worm' was an Elizabethan insult that meant "wretch," and to be called a 'bookworm' was an insult. ... The figurative bookworm began its career as an insult, a wholly negative term for someone who reads too much.
What is a reader called?
In this page you can discover 60 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for reader, like: bibliophile, bookworm, bibliomaniac, viewer, lector, scholar, book reviewer, storybook, primer, lab assistant and soliloquist.
What do you call a person that reads in bed?
The sesquipedalian librocubicularist is the name for a person who reads books in bed. ... There is no known cure, but that's OK because a librocubicularist is someone who reads in bed.
