Dictionary

moth-eaten en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio

Meanings

1. Containing holes by having been eaten by moth larvae.
2. (figuratively) Old and in poor condition; worn-out.
   • "A bit moth-eaten, aren't they?" he said doubtfully. "I mean to say, bumpy in the springs and all that." "Oh, of course, I'd have them resprung and fresh covers made if you bought them." 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 72:
3. (figuratively) Antiquated; having been in use a long time.
   • ‘It’s got a file and rope ladder in it and if you was a bit older I’d make you eat them both raw for trying to put such a moth-eaten old wheeze over on me.’ 1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 90:

Forms

Translations (20)

de mottenzerfressen (containing moth holes) · es apolillado (old and in poor condition) · fr mangé aux mites (containing moth holes) · sv maläten (old and in poor condition) · fr mangé aux mites (old and in poor condition) · fi koinsyömä (containing moth holes) · grc σητόβρωτος (containing moth holes) · el σκωροφαγωμένος (containing moth holes) · el σκωροφαγωμένος (old and in poor condition) · fi koinsyömä (old and in poor condition) · gv lhemeenagh (containing moth holes) · ru изъе́денный мо́лью (containing moth holes) · nb møllspist (containing moth holes) · nn mølleten (containing moth holes) · nn mølleten (old and in poor condition) · es apolillado (containing moth holes) · ang moþfreten (containing moth holes) · sv maläten (containing moth holes) · cy yn dyllau pryfed (containing moth holes) · nb møllspist (old and in poor condition)