glowworm

[ gloh-wurm ]

/ ˈgloʊˌwɜrm /

the wingless female or larva of the European beetle, Lampyris noctiluca, which emits a sustained greenish light.

any of various other beetle larvae or wingless females that emit a glow rather than a flash of light.

Origin of glowworm

1300–50; Middle English. See glow, worm

glow-worm, glower, glowfly, glowing, glowstick, glowworm, gloxinia, gloze, glu, glubb, gluc-

And now, instead of the pale green and amber lamps of firefly and glowworm, burned only the fires of Tishnar's frost.

The Three Mulla-mulgars |Walter De La Mare
There were glowworm gems in the dark masses of her luxuriant hair.

A Soldier's Trial |Charles King
It will be said that this is a very large petitio to import into the glowworm's case.

The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 6 (of 12) |Robert G. Ingersoll
Let the pitch fall in the first words of the tenth stanza, "like a glowworm golden."

Vocal Expression |Katherine Jewell Everts

Suddenly there was a flash in the depths of the wood, as if a glowworm were flying by.

The Children of Alsace |Ren Bazin