'Caterpillar' definitions:

Definition of 'caterpillar'

(from WordNet)
noun
A wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth
noun
A large tracked vehicle that is propelled by two endless metal belts; frequently used for moving earth in construction and farm work [syn: Caterpillar, cat]

Definition of 'Caterpillar'

From: 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]

Definition of 'caterpillar'

From: GCIDE
  • Scorpion \Scor"pi*on\, n. [F., fr. L. scorpio, scorpius, Gr. ?, perhaps akin to E. sharp.]
  • 1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of pulmonate arachnids of the order Scorpiones, having a suctorial mouth, large claw-bearing palpi, and a caudal sting. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Scorpions have a flattened body, and a long, slender post-abdomen formed of six movable segments, the last of which terminates in a curved venomous sting. The venom causes great pain, but is unattended either with redness or swelling, except in the axillary or inguinal glands, when an extremity is affected. It is seldom if ever destructive of life. Scorpions are found widely dispersed in the warm climates of both the Old and New Worlds. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Zool.) The pine or gray lizard (Sceloporus undulatus). [Local, U. S.] [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Zool.) The scorpene. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Script.) A painful scourge. [1913 Webster]
  • My father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. --1 Kings xii. 11. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Astron.) A sign and constellation. See Scorpio. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Antiq.) An ancient military engine for hurling stones and other missiles. [1913 Webster]
  • Book scorpion. (Zool.) See under Book.
  • False scorpion. (Zool.) See under False, and {Book scorpion}.
  • Scorpion bug, or Water scorpion (Zool.) See Nepa.
  • Scorpion fly (Zool.), a neuropterous insect of the genus Panorpa. See Panorpid.
  • Scorpion grass (Bot.), a plant of the genus Myosotis. Myosotis palustris is the forget-me-not.
  • Scorpion senna (Bot.), a yellow-flowered leguminous shrub (Coronilla Emerus) having a slender joined pod, like a scorpion's tail. The leaves are said to yield a dye like indigo, and to be used sometimes to adulterate senna.
  • Scorpion shell (Zool.), any shell of the genus Pteroceras. See Pteroceras.
  • Scorpion spiders. (Zool.), any one of the Pedipalpi.
  • Scorpion's tail (Bot.), any plant of the leguminous genus Scorpiurus, herbs with a circinately coiled pod; -- also called caterpillar.
  • Scorpion's thorn (Bot.), a thorny leguminous plant (Genista Scorpius) of Southern Europe.
  • The Scorpion's Heart (Astron.), the star Antares in the constellation Scorpio. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'caterpillar'

From: Easton
  • Caterpillar the consumer. Used in the Old Testament (1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chr. 6:28; Ps. 78:46; Isa. 33:4) as the translation of a word (hasil) the root of which means "to devour" or "consume," and which is used also with reference to the locust in Deut. 28:38. It may have been a species of locust, or the name of one of the transformations through which the locust passes, locust-grub. It is also found (Ps. 105:34; Jer. 51:14, 27; R.V., "cankerworm") as the rendering of a different Hebrew word, _yelek_, a word elsewhere rendered "cankerworm" (q.v.), Joel 1:4; 2:25. (See LOCUST.)

Words containing 'Caterpillar'