I.a little worm, grub, in decaying things.
II. Transf.
A. A disease of dogs which drives them mad, Grat. Cyn. 386.—
B. In the Vulgate, the scarlet worm, for coccum (scarlet color), Vulg. Exod. 35, 25; cf. Hier. Ep. 64, 19: “VERMICVLVM STRAVERVNT,” Inscr. Orell. 4240; Inscr. Murat. p. 114, 2.