Puzzle #421 · July 27, 2026
bookworm
Featured
Every day one two-word expression or compound word used in American English.
A bookworm is a person who reads voraciously—someone always buried in a book. The term is affectionate but slightly teasing, implying that the reader might prefer books to people.
The word originally referred to actual insects that bore through the pages of books, damaging them. By the 1500s, it was being applied metaphorically to humans who consumed books just as hungrily. In American school culture, being called a bookworm was sometimes an insult, grouping you with the nerds rather than the athletes. As adult culture shifted to celebrate learning, “bookworm” became a badge of honor, with social media accounts and book clubs proudly claiming the title.
The word originally referred to actual insects that bore through the pages of books, damaging them. By the 1500s, it was being applied metaphorically to humans who consumed books just as hungrily. In American school culture, being called a bookworm was sometimes an insult, grouping you with the nerds rather than the athletes. As adult culture shifted to celebrate learning, “bookworm” became a badge of honor, with social media accounts and book clubs proudly claiming the title.
Puzzle Appearances
The expression bookworm has appeared in 1 puzzle:
- Puzzle #421 on July 27, 2026
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print
Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.
Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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