Hawk moth

Hawk moth
Hawk moth Hawk" moth` (m[o^]th`; 115). (Zo["o]l.) Any moth of the family {Sphingid[ae]}, of which there are numerous genera and species. They are large, handsome moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed. They fly mostly at twilight and hover about flowers like a humming bird, sucking the honey by means of a long, slender proboscis. The larv[ae] are large, hairless caterpillars ornamented with green and other bright colors, and often with a caudal spine. See {Sphinx}, also {Tobacco worm}, and {Tomato worm}.

Syn: hawk moth, sphingid, sphinx moth, hummingbird moth. [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5] Tobacco Hawk Moth ({Macrosila Carolina}), and its Larva, the Tobacco Worm. [1913 Webster]

Note: The larv[ae] of several species of hawk moths feed on grapevines. The elm-tree hawk moth is {Ceratomia Amyntor}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Hawk moth — Hawk Hawk (h[add]k), n. [OE. hauk (prob. fr. Icel.), havek, AS. hafoc, heafoc; akin to D. havik, OHG. habuh, G. habicht, Icel. haukr, Sw. h[ o]k, Dan. h[ o]g, prob. from the root of E. heave.] (Zo[ o]l.) One of numerous species and genera of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hawk moth — hawk′ moth n. ent any of numerous moths of the family Sphingidae, noted for their swift flight and ability to hover while sipping nectar from flowers Also called sphingid,sphinx moth • Etymology: 1775–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • hawk moth — n. any of a family (Sphingidae) of moths with a thick, tapering body, slender wings, and a long feeding tube used for sucking the nectar of flowers; sphinx moth …   English World dictionary

  • hawk moth — noun any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed • Syn: ↑hawkmoth, ↑sphingid, ↑sphinx moth, ↑hummingbird moth • Hypernyms: ↑moth • Hyponyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • hawk moth — any of numerous moths of the family Sphingidae, noted for their very swift flight and ability to hover while sipping nectar from flowers. Also called sphingid, sphinx moth, hummingbird moth. [1775 85] * * * or sphinx moth Any moth of the… …   Universalium

  • hawk moth — Sphinx Sphinx, n. [L., from Gr. sfi gx, usually derived from sfi ggein to bind tight or together, as if the Throttler.] 1. (a) In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hawk moth — noun Any moth of the family Sphingidae. Syn: hornworm, sphinx moth …   Wiktionary

  • hawk-moth — n. Death s head moth …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • hawk moth — noun Date: 1785 any of a family (Sphingidae) of stout bodied moths with a long proboscis, long narrow more or less pointed forewings, and small hind wings called also sphinx …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hawk-moth — …   Useful english dictionary

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