Home > Synonyms > Synonyms for caterpillar

Find the synonyms or antonyms of a word



Synonyms for caterpillar

Grammar : Noun
Spell : kat-uh-pil-er, kat-er-
Phonetic Transcription : ˈkæt əˌpɪl ər, ˈkæt ər-


Définition of caterpillar

Origin :
  • mid-15c., catyrpel, probably altered (by association with Middle English piller "plunderer;" see pillage) from Old North French caterpilose "caterpillar" (Old French chatepelose), literally "shaggy cat" (probably in reference to the "wooly-bear" variety), from Late Latin catta pilosa, from catta "cat" (see cat (n.)) + pilosus "hairy, shaggy, covered with hair," from pilus "hair" (see pile (n.3)). Cf. also French chenille "caterpillar," literally "little dog." A Swiss German name for it is teufelskatz "devil's cat." "The caterpillar has in many idioms received the name of other animals" [Kitchin, who cites also Milanese cagnon "little dog," Italian dialectal gattola "little cat," Kentish hop-dog, hop-cat, Portuguese lagarta "lizard." Cf. also American English wooly-bear for the hairy variety. An Old English name for it was cawelworm "cole-worm." Caterpillar tractor is from 1908.
  • noun worm
Example sentences :
  • The Tobacco-worm is a caterpillar of the size and figure of a silk-worm.
  • Extract from : « The History of Louisiana » by Le Page Du Pratz
  • The caterpillar and the chrysalis belong to the embryonic period.
  • Extract from : « The Sexual Question » by August Forel
  • The caterpillar, for example, resembles the worm which is the ancestor of the insects.
  • Extract from : « The Sexual Question » by August Forel
  • Cossus, because it smells like the caterpillar, Cossus ligniperda.
  • Extract from : « The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise » by M. E. Hard
  • The caterpillar, you mean, boy—eating out its heart and its vitals.
  • Extract from : « The Christian » by Hall Caine
  • A shudder, and the caterpillar became as inert as if it were dead.
  • Extract from : « They Twinkled Like Jewels » by Philip Jos Farmer
  • Abdominal segment of a caterpillar to show the position of the tubercles.
  • Extract from : « Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology » by John. B. Smith
  • The caterpillar mask had done its work, and having done its work, must die.
  • Extract from : « "Wee Tim'rous Beasties" » by Douglas English
  • The caterpillar shook his stern, and the fly made off as if it had seen a ghost.
  • Extract from : « Fantasia of the Unconscious » by D. H. Lawrence
  • A caterpillar was dragging its length along and she touched it with her foot.
  • Extract from : « A Little Girl in Old Detroit » by Amanda Minnie Douglas

Words or expressions associated with your search

Most wanted synonyms

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019