tent caterpillars

1 definition found

tent caterpillars - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Lackey \Lack"ey\, n.; pl. Lackeys. [F. laquais; cf. Sp. & Pg.
     lacayo; of uncertain origin; perh. of German origin, and akin
     to E. lick, v.]
     An attending male servant; a footman; a servile follower.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey.
                                                    --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Lackey caterpillar (Zool.), the caterpillar, or larva, of
        any bombycid moth of the genus Clisiocampa; -- so called
        from its party-colored markings. The common European
        species (Clisiocampa neustria) is striped with blue,
        yellow, and red, with a white line on the back. The
        American species (Clisiocampa Americana and Clisiocampa  sylvatica
        ) are commonly called tent caterpillars. See
        Tent caterpillar, under Tent.
  
     Lackey moth (Zool.), the moth which produces the lackey
        caterpillar.
        [1913 Webster]