Silkworm

3 definitions found

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

  Silkworm \Silk"worm`\, n. [AS. seolcwyrm.] (Zool.)
     The larva of any one of numerous species of bombycid moths,
     which spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its
     cocoon before changing to a pupa.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     Note: The common species ({Bombyx mori}) feeds on the leaves
           of the white mulberry tree. It is native of China, but
           has long been introduced into other countries of Asia
           and Europe, and is reared on a large scale. In America
           it is reared only to small extent. The Ailanthus
           silkworm ({Philosamia cynthia}) is a much larger
           species, of considerable importance, which has been
           introduced into Europe and America from China. The most
           useful American species is the Polyphemus. See
           {Polyphemus}.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Pernyi silkworm}, the larva of the Pernyi moth. See {Pernyi
        moth}.
  
     {Silkworm gut}, a substance prepared from the contents of the
        silk glands of silkworms and used in making lines for
        angling. See {Gut}.
  
     {Silkworm rot}, a disease of silkworms; muscardine.
        [1913 Webster]

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

  Caterpillar \Cat"er*pil`lar\, n. [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}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Scorpiurus}, with pods
        resembling caterpillars.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {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
        {Carabid[ae]} which feed habitually upon caterpillars.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  silkworm
       n 1: hairless white caterpillar of the Chinese silkworm moth;
            source of most commercial silk
       2: larva of a saturniid moth; spins a large amount of strong
          silk in constructing its cocoon [syn: {giant silkworm}, {wild
          wilkworm}]