caterpillar en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈkætəˌpɪlə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈkætəˌpɪlɚ/ (US)
- /ˈkætɚˌpɪlɚ/ (US)
Etymology
From Middle English catirpel, catirpeller, probably from Old Northern French catepeluse (Modern French chatte + pileuse (“hairy cat”)), from Late Latin catta + pilōsa. The sense "rapacious, extortionate person" arose by association with obsolete piller (“plunderer”). See Modern Norman cattepeleuse. Displaced native kaleworm, from Middle English cowle worm, cale worme (“caterpillar, corn weevil”), from Old English cawelwyrm, cawelwurm (“caterpillar”).
Meanings
-
The larva of a butterfly or moth; leafworm.
The bird just ate that green caterpillar.
[T]he fairer the Roſe is, the ſooner it is bitten with Catterpillers; […]
1590, T[homas] L[odge], “Alindas Comfort to Perplexed Rosalynd”, in Rosalynde. Euphues Golden Legacie: […], London: […] Thomas Orwin for T. G[ubbin] and John Busbie, →OCLC, folio 13, recto:A caterpillar is letting itself down on a thread, twirling slowly like a rope artist, spiralling towards his chest. It’s a luscious, unreal green, like a gumdrop, and covered with tiny bright hairs.
2003, Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake, Virago Press, published 2013, page 46:
- A vehicle with a caterpillar track; a crawler.
- A set of subtrees of a tree.
-
(obsolete) A rapacious, extortionate person preying upon the community.
Bristow Castle, which they say is held / By Busbie, Bagot, and their Complices, / The Caterpillers of the Commonwealth, / Which I haue sworne to weed, and plucke away.
1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 33:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| caterpillars | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| caterpiller | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
caterpillarize · caterpillar tree · caterpillar skiing · caterpillar roll · caterpillarlike · pseudocaterpillar · caterpillar eater · forest caterpillar hunter · caterpillar searcher · Caterpillar Club · caterpillarization · caterpillar hunter · hog caterpillar · caterpillar track · caterpillared · caterpillar fungus · caterpillar catcher
Hyponyms
woolly bear caterpillar · looper caterpillar · tent caterpillar · Polyphemus caterpillar · sea caterpillar · saddleback caterpillar · red-humped caterpillar · zebra caterpillar · alfalfa caterpillar · monarch caterpillar · puss caterpillar · processionary caterpillar · eastern tent caterpillar · Christmas caterpillar · slug caterpillar · salt-marsh caterpillar · vegetable caterpillar · lobster caterpillar
Translations (221)
gv braddag (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ki kĩgunyarĩrĩ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · lo ຕົວບົ້ງ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ja 毛虫 (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sq vemje (larva of a butterfly or moth) · es oruga (larva of a butterfly or moth) · be ву́сень (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sh gȕsjenica (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mi tōtorongū (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ky малак (larva of a butterfly or moth) · la ūrīca (larva of a butterfly or moth) · pl licha (larva of a butterfly or moth) · la dolba (larva of a butterfly or moth) · lbe янначчуччу (larva of a butterfly or moth) · zza kermık (larva of a butterfly or moth) · fr chenille (larva of a butterfly or moth) · pl pojazd gąsienicowy (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · yo wùkúwùkú (larva of a butterfly or moth) · th ร่าน (larva of a butterfly or moth) · fi telaketjutraktori (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · chk muun (larva of a butterfly or moth) · is lirfa (larva of a butterfly or moth) · grc κάμπη (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mt xagħat (larva of a butterfly or moth) · pa ਸੁੰਡ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · es oruga (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · la campē (larva of a butterfly or moth) · nds Ruup (larva of a butterfly or moth) · udi тыртыр (larva of a butterfly or moth) · hi पोका (larva of a butterfly or moth) · vi sâu bướm (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ga bolb (larva of a butterfly or moth) · el κάμπια (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mn жаран хөлт (larva of a butterfly or moth) · wym raojp (larva of a butterfly or moth) · pl gąsienica (larva of a butterfly or moth) · eo raŭpo (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · mi mokamoka (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sc ruga (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ht chini (larva of a butterfly or moth) · syc ܡܫܘܛܐ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · nrf carpéleuse (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ko 애벌레 (larva of a butterfly or moth) · de Raupe (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · az tırtıl (larva of a butterfly or moth) · nrf katpwölör (larva of a butterfly or moth) · pa ਸੁੰਡੀ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ar يَرَقَة (larva of a butterfly or moth) · pdt Krupa (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mg fanday (larva of a butterfly or moth) · lo ບຸ້ງ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · gd burras (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sl gosenica (larva of a butterfly or moth) · acw يَرَقَة (larva of a butterfly or moth) · nrf carpélouose (larva of a butterfly or moth) · lv kāpurs (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ay laqatu (larva of a butterfly or moth) · vi sâu (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mk гасеничар (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · nv wóshiiyishí (larva of a butterfly or moth) · scn papici (larva of a butterfly or moth) · km ដង្កូវ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sv caterpillar (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · kxd giuk bulu (larva of a butterfly or moth) · km ក្រា (larva of a butterfly or moth) · pt lagarta (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ja 無限軌道 (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · ml കമ്പിളിപ്പുഴു (larva of a butterfly or moth) · rsk гушенїцар (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · id ulat (larva of a butterfly or moth) · cy Siani flewog (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ar دُودَة الْفَرَاشَة (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ang trēowwyrm (larva of a butterfly or moth) · hu hernyó (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mn төөлүүр хорхой (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mr अळी (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ro șenilă (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · sh гу̏сеница (larva of a butterfly or moth) · es revoltón (larva of a butterfly or moth) · lb Raup (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sw kiwavi (larva of a butterfly or moth) · pl liszka (larva of a butterfly or moth) · eo raŭpo (larva of a butterfly or moth) · as বিছা (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ca eruga (larva of a butterfly or moth) · chr ᏍᎪᏯ ᎠᏁᏍᎩᎸᎥᏍᎩ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ka მუხლუხი (larva of a butterfly or moth) · cv лӗпӗш хурчӗ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ta கம்பளிப்பூச்சி (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mnc ᠯᡠᡴᡠ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · oc eruga (larva of a butterfly or moth) · nv wódítłʼooí (larva of a butterfly or moth) · eo ĉenbendo (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · cy lindysyn (larva of a butterfly or moth) · de Raupenfahrzeug (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · kw pryv del (larva of a butterfly or moth) · gl burgo (larva of a butterfly or moth) · eu beldar (larva of a butterfly or moth) · et röövik (larva of a butterfly or moth) · da kålorm (larva of a butterfly or moth) · fi perhostoukka (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ast allacrán (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sco oobit (larva of a butterfly or moth) · nrf catte (larva of a butterfly or moth) · la ērūca (larva of a butterfly or moth) · bg гъсе́ница (larva of a butterfly or moth) · cmn 毛毛蟲 /毛毛虫 (larva of a butterfly or moth) · yue 毛蟲 /毛虫 (larva of a butterfly or moth) · clt ziyziypa (larva of a butterfly or moth) · fur ruie (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sk húsenica (larva of a butterfly or moth) · taa ch'et'on' gugha' (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sh гу̏сјеница (larva of a butterfly or moth) · yo katakata (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · eu har (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ksw သံ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · id ulat bulu (larva of a butterfly or moth) · izh puutoukka (larva of a butterfly or moth) · qu sika (larva of a butterfly or moth) · it bruco (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ur سنڈی (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ur پوکا (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ml ശലഭപ്പുഴു (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ar يَسْرُوع (larva of a butterfly or moth) · su hileud (larva of a butterfly or moth) · uli miiul (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sv fjärilslarv (larva of a butterfly or moth) · lo ໂຕດ້ວງ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ota طرتیل (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ady пкӏэшъэхъу (larva of a butterfly or moth) · bo འབུ་སྤུ་ཟོག (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mi torongū (larva of a butterfly or moth) · fo ormvera (larva of a butterfly or moth) · fa کرم صدپا (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ru гу́сеница (larva of a butterfly or moth) · rsk гушенїца (larva of a butterfly or moth) · scn campa (larva of a butterfly or moth) · qu kuru (larva of a butterfly or moth) · io raupo (larva of a butterfly or moth) · pt veículo com lagartas (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · yi שלייערל (larva of a butterfly or moth) · wa halene (larva of a butterfly or moth) · yue 毛毛蟲 /毛毛虫 (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ko 모충 (larva of a butterfly or moth) · kxd ulat bulu (larva of a butterfly or moth) · vo jönulil (larva of a butterfly or moth) · bjn hulat (larva of a butterfly or moth) · tum mbungu (larva of a butterfly or moth) · uz kapalak qurti (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mi whē (larva of a butterfly or moth) · el ερπυστριοφόρος ελκυστήρας (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · th บุ้ง (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sv mallarv (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ca eruga (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · es teña (larva of a butterfly or moth) · bn শুঁয়াপোকা (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sq zek (larva of a butterfly or moth) · gu ઇયળ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · cmn 履帶式車輛 /履带式车辆 (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · af ruspe (larva of a butterfly or moth) · kn ಕಂಬಳಿಹುಳ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · tk gurçuk (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ja キャタピラ (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · et tõuk (larva of a butterfly or moth) · uk гу́сениця (larva of a butterfly or moth) · te గొంగళిపురుగు (larva of a butterfly or moth) · hu hernyótalpas traktor (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · ky көпөлөк курту (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mk гасеница (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ln mombínzó (larva of a butterfly or moth) · tg кирмак (larva of a butterfly or moth) · he זַחַל (larva of a butterfly or moth) · li roeps (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sh gȕsenica (larva of a butterfly or moth) · as পলু (larva of a butterfly or moth) · th หนอนผีเสื้อ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ceb til-as (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ast gata (larva of a butterfly or moth) · uz qurt (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ms beluncas (larva of a butterfly or moth) · kw kath vlewek (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ja 芋虫 (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ki kĩgunyũ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · my ပိုးတောင့်တဲ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ug تۈكلۈك قۇرت (larva of a butterfly or moth) · mic engejit (larva of a butterfly or moth) · lo ດ້ວງ (larva of a butterfly or moth) · jv uler (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ro omidă (larva of a butterfly or moth) · nb larve (larva of a butterfly or moth) · rm rasulauna (larva of a butterfly or moth) · es convólvulo (larva of a butterfly or moth) · fi katepillari (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · bg вери́жен автомоби́л (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · vo jönul (larva of a butterfly or moth) · lt vikšras (larva of a butterfly or moth) · es tractor de oruga (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · cs housenka (larva of a butterfly or moth) · hu lánctalpas jármű (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · th ด้วง (larva of a butterfly or moth) · uk гу́сінь (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ru гу́сеничный тра́ктор (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · hy թրթուր (larva of a butterfly or moth) · ny mbozi (larva of a butterfly or moth) · tr paletli (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · jra hlăt (larva of a butterfly or moth) · vi sâu róm (larva of a butterfly or moth) · de Raupe (larva of a butterfly or moth) · gd bratag (larva of a butterfly or moth) · sw katapila (vehicle with a caterpillar track) · nv chʼosh ditłʼooí (larva of a butterfly or moth) · es cuncuna (larva of a butterfly or moth) · nl rups (larva of a butterfly or moth) · gl eiruga (larva of a butterfly or moth) · cmn 毛蟲 /毛虫 (larva of a butterfly or moth) · kk жұлдызқұрт (larva of a butterfly or moth) · unm samhuwe (larva of a butterfly or moth) · tr tırtıl (larva of a butterfly or moth) · da larve (larva of a butterfly or moth) · pcd carplute (larva of a butterfly or moth) · hi इल्ली (larva of a butterfly or moth)