英和和英

別の表記

• caterpiller (obsolete)

語源

From 中期英語 catirpel, catirpeller, probably from Old Northern French catepeluse (Modern French chatte + pileuse (“hairy cat”)), from Late Latin catta + pilōsa. The sense "rapacious, extortionate person" arose by association with obsolete piller (“plunderer”). See Modern Norman cattepeleuse. Displaced native kaleworm, from 中期英語 cowle worm, cale worme (“caterpillar, corn weevil”), from 古期英語 cawelwyrm, cawelwurm (“caterpillar”).

発音

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈkætəˌpɪlə/
• (米国発音) IPA: /ˈkætɚˌpɪlɚ/, /ˈkætəˌpɪlɚ/

名詞

caterpillar (plural caterpillars)

1. The larva of a butterfly or moth; leafworm.

   The bird just ate that green caterpillar.

   • 2003, Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake, Virago Press (2013), page 46:

     A caterpillar is letting itself down on a thread, twirling slowly like a rope artist, spiralling towards his chest. It’s a luscious, unreal green, like a gumdrop, and covered with tiny bright hairs.

2. A vehicle with a caterpillar track; a crawler.
3. (mathematics) A set of subtrees of a tree.
4. (obsolete) A rapacious, extortionate person preying upon the community.
   • 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 33:

     Bristow Castle, which they say is held
     By Busbie, Bagot, and their Complices,
     The Caterpillers of the Commonwealth,
     Which I haue sworne to weed, and plucke away.

派生語

動詞

caterpillar (third-person singular simple present caterpillars, present participle caterpillaring, simple past and past participle caterpillared)

1. (intransitive) To move along slowly, drawing one's body up, in the manner of a caterpillar.

参考

• pillar