Cankerworm

5 definitions found

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

  Dropworm \Drop"worm`\ (dr[o^]p"w[^u]rm`), n. (Zool.)
     The larva of any geometrid moth, which drops from trees by
     means of a thread of silk, as the {cankerworm} or {inchworm}.
     See {inchworm} and {geometrid}.
     [1913 Webster]



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

  Cankerworm \Can"ker*worm`\, n. (Zool.)
     The larva of two species of geometrid moths which are very
     injurious to fruit and shade trees by eating, and often
     entirely destroying, the foliage. Other similar larv[ae] are
     also called cankerworms.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The autumnal species ({Anisopteryx pometaria}) becomes
           adult late in autumn (after frosts) and in winter. The
           spring species ({Anisopteryx vernata}) remains in the
           ground through the winter, and matures in early spring.
           Both have winged males and wingless females. The
           larv[ae] are similar in appearance and habits, and
           belong to the family of measuring worms or spanworms.
           These larv[ae] hatch from the eggs when the leaves
           begin to expand in spring.
           [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]:

  cankerworm
       n : green caterpillar of a geometrid moth; pest of various fruit
           and shade trees

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Cankerworm
     (Heb. yelek), "the licking locust," which licks up the grass of
     the field; probably the locust at a certain stage of its growth,
     just as it emerges from the caterpillar state (Joel 1:4; 2:25).
     The word is rendered "caterpillar" in Ps. 105:34; Jer. 51:14, 17
     (but R.V. "canker-worm"). "It spoileth and fleeth away" (Nah.
     3:16), or as some read the passage, "The cankerworm putteth off
     [i.e., the envelope of its wings], and fleeth away."