woodworm

noun

wood·​worm ˈwu̇d-ˌwərm 

: an insect larva (as of a furniture beetle) that bores especially in dead wood

also : an infestation of woodworms

Examples of woodworm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Similarly, some items in his collection became contaminated with mildew, woodworm or worse — asbestos, mercury and radioactivity. —Catherine Hickley, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2023

Try and look out for dealers who actually specialize in frames and mirrors, and remember to always check the backs of frames for any damage, rot, or woodworm. —Jermaine Gallacher, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2023

These crustaceans, which sort of resemble a massive woodworm, are carnivores and usually feed on dead animals that fall down from the ocean’s surface. —Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 17 Aug. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above