Palmerworm

2 definitions found

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

  Palmerworm \Palm"er*worm`\, n. (Zool.)
     (a) Any hairy caterpillar which appears in great numbers,
         devouring herbage, and wandering about like a palmer. The
         name is applied also to other voracious insects. --Joel.
         i. 4.
     (b) In America, the larva of any one of several moths, which


         destroys the foliage of fruit and forest trees, esp. the
         larva of {Ypsolophus pometellus}, which sometimes appears
         in vast numbers.
         [1913 Webster]

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Palmer-worm
     (Heb. gazam). The English word may denote either a caterpillar
     (as rendered by the LXX.), which wanders like a palmer or
     pilgrim, or which travels like pilgrims in bands (Joel 1:4;
     2:25), the wingless locusts, or the migratory locust in its
     larva state.