blindworm

Inherited from Middle English blynde worme, equivalent to blind +‎ worm due to its very small eyes. Cognate with Swedish blindorm, blindödla.

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blindworm (plural blindworms)

1. Anguis fragilis (slowworm), a small species of legless lizard.
   • 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “[(please specify the book title).] Chapter 6.”, in The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC, page 228:

     […] we haue a blind worme to be found vnder logs in woods, and timber that hath lien long in a place, which some also doo call (and vpon better ground) by the name of [s]low worms, and they are knowen easilie by their more or lesse varietie of striped colours, drawen long waies from their heads, their whole bodies little excéeding a foot in length, & yet is there venem deadlie.

   • c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:

     You spotted snakes with double tongue,
     Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;
     Newts and blind-worms, do no wrong,
     Come not near our fairy queen.

   • 1886, Peter Christen Asbj&oslash￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 77:

     "But I'll give you a bit of advice! Take a blindworm - I'll find you one - and ram it into the barrel of your gun and then fire it, after that you may try what powder and shot will do."

• Anguis fragilis on Wikipedia.Wikipedia