lepisma

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
Lepisma
    n 1: type genus of the Lepismatidae: silverfish [syn: {Lepisma},
         {genus Lepisma}]
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Lepisma \Le*pis"ma\ (l[-e]*p[i^]z"m[.a]), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
   le`pisma peel, fr. lepi`s -i`dos, a scale.] (Zool.)
   A genus of wingless thysanurous insects having an elongated
   flattened body, covered with shining scales and terminated by
   seven unequal bristles. A common species ({Lepisma
   saccharina}) is found in houses, and often injures books and
   furniture; it feeds on starch and eats sized paper and
   starched clothes. Called also {shiner}, {silverfish}, {silver
   witch}, {silver moth}, and {furniture bug}.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]
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