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.
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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.
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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}.
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4. Anything which gradually and silently eats, consumes, or
wastes any other thing.
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{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.
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