Definition of vomit

The word "vomit" derives from the Old English word "wyrmian," which meant "to twist or turn." This root word "wyrm" also gave us the words "worm" and "serpent." In Old English, the word "wyrmian" was used to describe the twisting and writhing movements of a living creature, such as a serpent or a worm. It was also used to denote the act of actively expelling the contents of one's stomach, which resulted in the twisting and turning of the intestines and the expulsion of the undigested food. Over time, the words for "vomit" and "worm" became linguistically distinct in most Germanic languages, as the meaning of "wyrm" evolved to primarily describe creatures that crawled rather than wriggled. However, in English, the words "vomit" and "worm" continued to share a common root, as represented by the suprising similarities in their pronunciations. In the Middle English period, the word "worm" took on a more significant and sinister meaning, representing the writhing life that burrowed beneath the soil and brought disease and decay. This association with decay and impurity helped establish the contemporary negative connotations of the word "vomit" while reinforcing its linguistic association with the strikingly similar sounding word, "worm." In summary, the English word "vomit" has evolved from its Old English origins, where it described the twisting and writhing movements of a living creature and the corresponding act of expelling undigested food from the stomach. Its linguistic roots and associations with the word "worm" further establish the negative connotations and connections this word still holds today.