caterpillar
oxford
views updated May 29 2018cat·er·pil·lar / ˈkatə(r)ˌpilər/ •
n. 1. the larva of a butterfly or moth, having a segmented wormlike body with three pairs of true legs and several pairs of leglike appendages. ∎ (in general use) any similar larva of various insects, esp. sawflies.2. (also caterpillar track or tread) trademark an articulated steel band passing around the wheels of a vehicle for travel on rough ground. ∎ a vehicle with such tracks.ORIGIN: late Middle English: perhaps from a variant of Old French chatepelose, literally ‘hairy cat,’ influenced by obsolete piller ‘ravager.’ The association with “cat”is found in other languages, e.g., Swiss German Teufelskatz (literally ‘devil's cat’), Lombard gatta (literally ‘cat’). Compare with French chaton, English catkin, resembling hairy caterpillars.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
caterpillar
oxford
views updated May 17 2018caterpillar XV. The earliest recorded form,
catyrpel, is prob. — AN. var. of OF.
chatepelose ‘hairy cat’; assoc. in XVI with †
piller ravager, plunderer (see
PILLAGE), prob. brought about the extended form in
-piller,
-pillar.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
caterpillar
oxford
views updated Jun 08 2018caterpillar Larval stage of
Lepidoptera, although sometimes the term is also applied to larval
Symphyta (sawflies).
A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY
caterpillar
oxford
views updated Jun 08 2018caterpillar Worm-like larva of a butterfly or moth; it has a segmented body, short antennae, simple eyes, three pairs of true legs and chewing mouthparts. Nearly all caterpillars feed voraciously on plants and are serious crop pests.
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