subs. (public schools’).—A small obnoxious boy: cf. SQUIRT.
Verb. (colloquial).—To wriggle; to shudder: mentally or physically. Whence (American) TO GET A SQUIRM ON = to bestir oneself; and SQUIRMY = (1) crooked, deceitful; and (2) ALL-OVERISH (q.v.).
1859. HON. MR. PITT [of Missouri, BARTLETT]. We have declared an intention, and now, when we come to publish it, some gentleman is suddenly seized with the “retrenchment gripes,” and SQUIRMS around like a long red worm on a pin-hook.
1857. O. W. HOLMES, The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table, v. You never need think you can turn over any old falsehood without a terrible SQUIRMING and scattering of the horrid little population that dwells under it.
1862. C. F. BROWNE (‘Artemus Ward’), Artemus Ward: His Book, 44. I giv Uriah a sly wink here, which made the old feller SQUIRM like a speared Eel.
1874. BEETON, The Siliad, 205.
| I rage, I SQUIRM! … | |
| I say rude things, but no one cares a bit. |
1899. KERNAHAN, Scoundrels & Co., v. I SQUIRM under the cold kiss that a revolver’s ugly lips press to my forehead [Chapter Title].
