'wormseed' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'worm' and 'seed,' where 'worm' meant 'intestinal parasite' and 'seed' meant 'seed of a plant.'

'wormseed' changed from the Early Modern English phrase 'worm seed' to the solid compound 'wormseed' and eventually became the modern English word 'wormseed'.

Initially, it meant 'the seeds of certain plants used to expel intestinal worms,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of plants so used and the medicinal materials/preparations derived from them.