from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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. (Zool.) Any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not
included among the butterflies; as, the luna moth; Io
moth; hawk moth.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) 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. (Zool.) Any one of various other insects that destroy
woolen and fur goods, etc., esp. the larvae of several
species of beetles of the genera {Dermestes} and
{Anthrenus}. Carpet moths are often the larvae 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} (Zool.), any plant louse of the genus
{Aleurodes}, and related genera. They are injurious to
various plants.
{Moth gnat} (Zool.), a dipterous insect of the genus
{Bychoda}, having fringed wings.
{Moth hunter} (Zool.), the goatsucker.
{Moth miller} (Zool.), 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]
from
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Moth
Heb. 'ash, from a root meaning "to fall away," as moth-eaten
garments fall to pieces (Job 4:19; 13:28; Isa. 50:9; 51:8; Hos.
5:12).
Gr. ses, thus rendered in Matt. 6:19, 20; Luke 12:33. Allusion
is thus made to the destruction of clothing by the larvae of the
clothes-moth. This is the only lepidopterous insect referred to
in Scripture.