Lepisma

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Lepisma
       n : type genus of the Lepismatidae: silverfish [syn: {genus
           Lepisma}]