Moth

Moth
Moth Moth, n.; pl. {Moths} (m[o^]thz). [OE. mothe, AS. mo[eth][eth]e; akin to D. mot, G. motte, Icel. motti, and prob. to E. mad an earthworm. Cf. {Mad}, n., {Mawk}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not included among the butterflies; as, the luna moth; Io moth; hawk moth. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) Any lepidopterous insect that feeds upon garments, grain, etc.; as, the clothes moth; grain moth; bee moth. See these terms under {Clothes}, {Grain}, etc. [1913 Webster]

3. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of various other insects that destroy woolen and fur goods, etc., esp. the larv[ae] of several species of beetles of the genera {Dermestes} and {Anthrenus}. Carpet moths are often the larv[ae] of {Anthrenus}. See {Carpet beetle}, under {Carpet}, {Dermestes}, {Anthrenus}. [1913 Webster]

4. Anything which gradually and silently eats, consumes, or wastes any other thing. [1913 Webster]

{Moth blight} (Zo["o]l.), any plant louse of the genus {Aleurodes}, and related genera. They are injurious to various plants.

{Moth gnat} (Zo["o]l.), a dipterous insect of the genus {Bychoda}, having fringed wings.

{Moth hunter} (Zo["o]l.), the goatsucker.

{Moth miller} (Zo["o]l.), a clothes moth. See {Miller}, 3, (a) .

{Moth mullein} (Bot.), a common herb of the genus {Verbascum} ({Verbascum Blattaria}), having large wheel-shaped yellow or whitish flowers. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • moth|y — «MTH ee, MOTH », adjective, moth|i|er, moth|i|est. infested by moths; moth eaten …   Useful english dictionary

  • Moth — ist der Name von Sophie Amalie Moth (1654−1719), Mätresse des dänisch norwegischen König Christian V. Franz Xaver Moth (1802 1879), böhmischer Mathematiker. Siehe auch: International Moth Class Diese Seite ist eine …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • MOTH — (Heb. עָשׁ, ash and סָס, sas; AV, JPS – worm ), insect said to eat and destroy clothes (Isa. 51:8; cf. 50:9; Job 13:28). The word ash is also used as a synonym for disintegration and   destruction (Hos. 5:12; Ps. 39:12). These names refer to the… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • moth — [ mɔθ ] noun count a flying insect like a BUTTERFLY that flies mostly at night. The young form of some types of moth eat cloth: Protect your rug from damage by moths. like a moth to a candle flame used for emphasizing how much someone is… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • moth — [môth] n. pl. moths [môthz, môths] [ME motthe < OE moththe, akin to Ger motte < IE base * math , gnawing vermin] 1. any of various families of chiefly night flying lepidopteran insects, similar to the butterflies but generally smaller, less …   English World dictionary

  • Moth — (m[o^]th), n. A mote. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • moth — (n.) O.E. moððe (Northumbrian mohðe), common Germanic (Cf. O.N. motti, M.Du. motte, Du. mot, Ger. Motte moth ), perhaps related to O.E. maða maggot, or from the root of MIDGE (Cf. midge) (q.v.). Until 16c. used mostly of the larva and usually in… …   Etymology dictionary

  • moth|er-to-be — «MUHTH uhr tu BEE», noun, plural moth|ers to be. an expectant mother …   Useful english dictionary

  • moth|er — moth|er1 «MUHTH uhr», noun, verb, adjective. –n. 1. a woman who has given birth to a child: »The mother and father were very proud of their new baby. 2. a female parent: »The puppies have lost their mother. 3. Figurative. the cause or source of… …   Useful english dictionary

  • moth — [mɔθ US mo:θ] n [: Old English; Origin: moththe] an insect related to the ↑butterfly that flies mainly at night and is attracted to lights. Some moths eat holes in cloth …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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