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nightwalker

nightwalker

8.8
A large worm used for fish bait that comes out at night
  • noun
  • /ˈnaɪtˌwɔːkər/
translation icon : lombriz nocturna
  • She used a handful of nightwalkers to catch more fish at the lake.

Examples

  • The fisherman dug for nightwalkers after a heavy rain to use as bait.

  • The nightwalker wriggled out of the moist soil.

  • Nightwalkers can be found on the lawn most evenings in early spring.

  • Many anglers prefer using nightwalkers as bait.

  • Anglers often use nightwalkers as bait because they are larger and more enticing for fish.

  • After a rainstorm, you can see nightwalkers wriggling on the wet ground in the garden.

  • The fisherman prepared his tackle box and included some nightwalkers for better luck during the night catch.

Synonyms

earthworm
vsnightwalker
16 1.3

A small long worm that lives in soil and helps make soil healthy

is larger and specifically emerges at night when the ground is wet for bait
nightcrawler
vsnightwalker
  • US
4 7.0

A large earthworm that comes out at night and people use for bait

emerges specifically at night especially when ground is wet and used as bait
crawler
vsnightwalker
  • US
4 5.4

A small worm that lives in soil and is often used as bait for fish

appears especially at night when ground is wet rather than merely surfacing when cool
wiggler
vsnightwalker
1 7.2

A small worm that lives in soil and is used for fishing bait

is defined by nocturnal emergence on wet ground rather than by soil work
dew worm
vsnightwalker
8.9

A large earthworm that comes out at night or when the ground is wet and people use for fishing

emerges mainly at night when the ground is wet and serves as bait
fishworm
vsnightwalker
6.3

A worm, often an earthworm, used to catch fish

comes out particularly at night under wet conditions rather than just when cool
fishing worm
vsnightwalker
2.5

A worm that people use as bait to catch fish

is notable for appearing at night especially during wet ground rather than only cool times
angleworm
vsnightwalker
  • US
8.7

A common earthworm used as bait for fishing

is more specific about appearing at night on wet ground for bait use

Surface Forms

nightwalker singular
nightwalkers plural

Morphology

nightwalker = night + walker (opaque) = night + walker

Although analyzable as 'night' + 'walker', this sense names a specific large earthworm used as bait, a specialized lexical meaning not inferable from the components by an average learner.

Etymology

The word nightwalker is made of night ('dark time') and walker ('one who walks'). These large earthworms come out at night and seem to 'walk' on the ground, so people often call them nightwalkers and use them as bait.