Silkworm SILK'WORM, n. The worm which produces silk, of the genus
Phalaena. Silk-worms are said to have been first introduced into the
Roman empire from China, in the reign of Justinian.
silkworm
n 1: the commercially bred hairless white caterpillar of the
domestic silkworm moth which spins a cocoon that can be
processed to yield silk fiber; the principal source of
commercial silk
2: larva of a saturniid moth; spins a large amount of strong
silk in constructing its cocoon [syn: silkworm, giant
silkworm}, wild wilkworm]
silkworm nounDate: before 12th century a moth whose larva spins a large amount of
strong silk in constructing its cocoon; especially an Asian moth
(Bombyx mori of the family Bombycidae) whose rough wrinkled hairless
caterpillar produces the silk of commerce
Silkworm \Silk"worm`\, n. [AS. seolcwyrm.] (Zo["o]l.)
The larva of any one of numerous species of bombycid moths,
which spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its
cocoon before changing to a pupa.
Note: The common species ({Bombyx mori}) feeds on the leaves
of the white mulberry tree. It is native of China, but
has long been introduced into other countries of Asia
and Europe, and is reared on a large scale. In America
it is reared only to small extent. The Ailanthus
silkworm ({Philosamia cynthia}) is a much larger
species, of considerable importance, which has been
introduced into Europe and America from China. The most
useful American species is the Polyphemus. See
Polyphemus.
Pernyi silkworm, the larva of the Pernyi moth. See Pernyi
moth}.
Silkworm gut, a substance prepared from the contents of the
silk glands of silkworms and used in making lines for
angling. See Gut.
Silkworm rot, a disease of silkworms; muscardine.
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