A bookworm
Meaning
A bookworm is someone who loves to read and spends a great deal of time engrossed in books.
Origin
Before it described a human, a "bookworm" was a very real pest: a tiny beetle larva or moth caterpillar that literally burrowed through the pages and bindings of precious manuscripts and early printed books. These destructive little creatures were a constant menace in libraries and monasteries for centuries, leaving trails of dust and ruin in their wake. It's this visual of a creature consumed by books—literally eating them—that was cleverly co-opted in the late 16th century to describe a person equally consumed by reading, diligently 'devouring' knowledge and stories with the same relentless focus as its namesake insect.
Examples
- Ever since she was a little girl, Sarah has been a bookworm, always with her nose in a novel.
- He spent his entire summer vacation being a bookworm, finishing over twenty different fantasy series.