In Germanic and Scandinavian folklore, a lindworm is a dragon-like creature usually depicted as a wingless serpent.
The term lindworm, also spelled lindorm or linnorm, comes from Germanic and Norse-language traditions. Illustrations and stories vary, but the creature is generally a long, serpentine dragon with two legs or no legs and no wings. Some later heraldic and literary depictions give it different body plans, so the category is broader than one fixed monster design.
Lindworms appear in European legends as dangerous guardians, monsters near wells, or creatures defeated by a clever hero. A well-known Scandinavian tale concerns a lindworm prince whose curse is broken when a bride follows strict instructions about removing layers of clothing. The story is separate from the heroic legend of Sigurd and Fáfnir.
A lindworm is often confused with a wyvern, which is conventionally winged and has two legs. Medieval descriptions were not always consistent, but the wingless serpentine form is the standard modern distinction.