Does anyone know where the phrase ‘bookworm’ comes from?

I looked it up.

It’s kinda gross.

“The origin of the idiom “bookworm” probably originated as a somewhat derogatory term for a person who studied or read more than was usual. Bugs such as silverfish, book lice, and linoleum beetles were referred to as bookworms because they inhabited books; thus the idiom.”

I’ve been in the habit of looking up common phrases after seeing a few posts on Instagram that highlight the often derogatory, offensive and even racist origins of some common phrases we use. Now, when I remember to do so (which is becoming more common than not), I try to look up the origin of a phrase before I use it. That led me to look up the phrase bookworm before I used it to self-describe myself this summer. So, let’s skip the phrase ‘bookworm’, shall we!