From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordWood-associated worms, also called Teredones.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition pages 7, 8; facsimile PDF pages 335, 336.
Historical definition
Assaliæ vermes are worms breeding in wood or between two boards; they are called Teredones.
Meaning
The definition identifies the creatures through their place of occurrence. Wood and the space between boards supply its practical recognition clues; Teredones supplies an alternative name. It does not distinguish a modern species, life stage or kind of wood. A historically accurate explanation should therefore preserve the observed setting rather than replace the entry with a narrow zoological identification.
The word vermes names the creatures in this account. It need not carry the same scope as a precise present-day biological category. In a passage, note whether the author concerns the animal, damage to wood or an analogy drawn from it.
Places to read
- Assaliæ vermesRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition pages 7, 8; facsimile PDF pages 335, 336 — Facsimile