Polyphemus

1 definition found

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

  Polyphemus \Pol`y*phe"mus\, n. [L. Polyphemus the one-eyed
     Cyclops who was blinded by Ulysses.] (Zool.)
     A very large American moth ({Telea polyphemus}) belonging to
     the Silkworm family ({Bombycid[ae]}). Its larva, which is
     very large, bright green, with silvery tubercles, and with
     oblique white stripes on the sides, feeds on the oak,


     chestnut, willow, cherry, apple, and other trees. It produces
     a large amount of strong silk. Called also {American
     silkworm}.
     [1913 Webster]