silverfish

4 definitions found

silverfish - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Silverfish \Sil"ver*fish`\, n.
     1. (Zool.)
        (a) The tarpum.
        (b) A white variety of the goldfish.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     2. one of a variety of insects of the order Thysanura,
        especially Lepisma saccharina, which may infest houses,
        and eats starched clothing and sized papers. See
        Lepisma.
        [PJC]

  Lepisma \Le*pis"ma\ (l[-e]*p[i^]z"m[.a]), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
     le`pisma peel, fr. lepi`s -i`dos, a scale.] (Zool.)
     A genus of wingless thysanurous insects having an elongated
     flattened body, covered with shining scales and terminated by
     seven unequal bristles. A common species (Lepisma saccharina
     ) is found in houses, and often injures books and
     furniture; it feeds on starch and eats sized paper and
     starched clothes. Called also shiner, silverfish, silver witch
     , silver moth, and furniture bug.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]

  Tarpum \Tar"pum\, n. (Zool.)
     A very large marine fish (Megapolis Atlanticus) of the
     Southern United States and the West Indies. It often becomes
     six or more feet in length, and has large silvery scales. The
     scales are a staple article of trade, and are used in
     fancywork. Called also tarpon, sabalo, savanilla,
     silverfish, and jewfish.
     [1913 Webster]

silverfish - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  silverfish
      n 1: silver-grey wingless insect found in houses feeding on book
           bindings and starched clothing [syn: silverfish, Lepisma saccharina
           ]
      2: a silvery variety of Carassius auratus