silkworm

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the silk-producing caterpillar of a moth, especially the domesticated Bombyx mori raised for commercial silk

   Each silkworm spun a cocoon from one long filament of silk.

2. 2
   noun

   the larva of any of several other moths that spin silk cocoons

   The wild silkworm fed on oak leaves before beginning its cocoon.

From Middle English silkwirm and Old English seolcwyrm, a compound of silk + worm. Worm formerly had the broad sense 'creeping animal or insect,' so the name refers to the silk-producing caterpillar rather than to a true worm.

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