Moth, n.; pl. Moths
 1. Zool. Any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not included among the butterflies; as, the luna moth; Io moth; hawk moth.
 2. Zool. Any lepidopterous insect that feeds upon garments, grain, etc.; as, the clothes moth; grain moth; bee moth. See these terms under Clothes, Grain, etc.
 3. Zool. Any one of various other insects that destroy woolen and fur goods, etc., esp. the larvae of several species of beetles of the genera Dermestes and Anthrenus.  Carpet moths are often the larvae of Anthrenus.  See Carpet beetle, under Carpet, Dermestes, Anthrenus.
 4. Anything which gradually and silently eats, consumes, or wastes any other thing.
 Moth blight Zool., any plant louse of the genus Aleurodes, and related genera. They are injurious to various plants.
 Moth gnat Zool., a dipterous insect of the genus Bychoda, having fringed wings.
 Moth hunter Zool., the goatsucker.
 Moth miller Zool., a clothes moth. See Miller, 3, (a).
 Moth mullein Bot., a common herb of the genus Verbascum (Verbascum Blattaria), having large wheel-shaped yellow or whitish flowers.

 ◄ ►


 Car·pet n.
 1. A heavy woven or felted fabric, usually of wool, but also of cotton, hemp, straw, etc.; esp. a floor covering made in breadths to be sewed together and nailed to the floor, as distinguished from a rug or mat; originally, also, a wrought cover for tables.
    Tables and beds covered with copes instead of carpets and coverlets.   --T. Fuller.
 2. A smooth soft covering resembling or suggesting a carpet. “The grassy carpet of this plain.”
 Carpet beetle or Carpet bug Zool., a small beetle (Anthrenus scrophulariæ), which, in the larval state, does great damage to carpets and other woolen goods; -- also called buffalo bug.
 Carpet knight. (a) A knight who enjoys ease and security, or luxury, and has not known the hardships of the field; a hero of the drawing room; an effeminate person. --Shak. (b) One made a knight, for some other than military distinction or service.
 Carpet moth Zool., the larva of an insect which feeds on carpets and other woolen goods.  There are several kinds.  Some are the larvæ of species of Tinea (as Tinea tapetzella); others of beetles, esp. Anthrenus.
 Carpet snake Zool., an Australian snake. See Diamond snake, under Diamond.
 Carpet sweeper, an apparatus or device for sweeping carpets.
 To be on the carpet, to be under consideration; to be the subject of deliberation; to be in sight; -- an expression derived from the use of carpets as table cover.
 Brussels carpet. See under Brussels.


 carpet beetle
      n : small beetle whose larvae are household pests feeding on
          woolen fabrics [syn: carpet bug]