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Webster 1913 Edition

Caterpillar

Cat′er-pilˊlar

,
Noun.
[OE.
catyrpel
, corrupted fr. OF.
chatepelouse
, or
cate pelue
, fr.
chate
, F.
chatte
, she-cat, fem. of
chat
, L.
catus
+ L.
pilosus
hairy, or F.
pelu
hairy, fr. L.
pilus
hair. See
Cat
, and
Pile
hair.]
1.
(Zool.)
The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the
cutworm
,
cankerworm
,
army worm
,
cotton worm
,
silkworm
.
2.
(Bot.)
A plant of the genus
Scorpiurus
, with pods resembling caterpillars.
Caterpillar catcher
, or
Caterpillar eater
(Zool.)
,
a bird belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on caterpillars. The name is also given to several other birds.
–
Caterpillar hunter
(Zool.)
,
any species of beetles of the genus
Callosoma
and other allied genera of the family
Carabidæ
which feed habitually upon caterpillars.

Webster 1828 Edition

Caterpillar

CATERPILLAR

,
Noun.
The colored and often hairy larva of the lepidopterous insects. This term is also applied to the larvas of other insects, such as the Tenthredo, or saw-fly; but is more generally confined to the lepidopters. Caterpillars are produced immediately from the egg; they are furnished with several pairs of feet, and have the shape and appearance of a worm. They contain the embryo of the perfect insect, inclosed within a muscular envelop, which is thrown off, when the insect enters the nymph or chrysalis state, in which it remains for sometime as if inanimate. It then throws off its last envelop, and emerges a perfect insect. Caterpillars generally feed on leaves or succulent vegetables, and are sometimes very destructive.

Definition 2025

caterpillar

caterpillar

English

A caterpillar—the larva of a butterfly or moth.

Alternative forms

Noun

caterpillar ‎(plural caterpillars)

  1. The larva of a butterfly or moth; leafworm.
    The bird just ate that green caterpillar.
  2. A vehicle with a caterpillar track; a crawler.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Etymology

From Middle English catirpel, catirpeller, probably from Old Northern French catepeluse (Modern French chatte + pileuse ‎(“hairy cat”)), from Late Latin catta + pilōsa.

Pronunciation

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