hookworm
hookworm Lexical Profile
hookworm Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A parasitic nematode worm of the family Ancylostomatidae that inhabits the small intestine of humans and other mammals, possessing hook-like mouthparts with which it attaches to the intestinal wall to feed on blood.
"Walking barefoot in contaminated soil increases the risk of contracting a hookworm larva through the skin."
A parasitic disease caused by an infestation of intestinal hookworms, typically characterized by abdominal pain, iron-deficiency anemia, and chronic fatigue.
"Public health campaigns in the early twentieth century greatly reduced the prevalence of hookworm in rural communities."
• Rhymes for hookworm
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century as a compound of 'hook' and 'worm', referring to the hook-like mouthparts that the parasite uses to attach to the intestinal wall of its host.