clothes moth

noun

: any of several small yellowish or buff-colored moths (especially Tinea pellionella and Tineola bisselliella of the family Tineidae) whose larvae eat wool, fur, or feathers

Examples of clothes moth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Saucers of silk line the sills like a grand banquet for clothes moths. Meredi Ortega, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023 Play it safe and deter clothes moths in other ways, Forté advises. Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 30 June 2023 The interloper: the webbing clothes moth, which feeds on silk, wool and other organic material. Melody Petersen Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2021 The interloper was the webbing clothes moth, which feeds on silk, wool and other organic material. Deborah Vankin Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2021 Some of them include female clothes moth pheromones to lure the insects. Deborah Vankin Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2021 Play it safe and deter clothes moths other ways, Forte advises. Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 13 Mar. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clothes moth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clothes moth was in 1753

Dictionary Entries Near clothes moth

Cite this Entry

“Clothes moth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clothes%20moth. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

clothes moth

noun
: any of several small moths whose caterpillars eat wool, fur, or feathers

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