gipsy moth
noun
a European moth, Lymantria dispar, introduced into North America, where it is a serious pest of shade trees: family Lymantriidae (or Liparidae)See also tussock moth
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They Call It Puppy Love And Other Animal-inspired PhrasesWe often attribute emotions and other human characteristics to animals. This is called anthropomorphism. Similarly, we also describe people using animal characteristics. You might, for example, say my teenage son “eats like a horse,” meaning he’s a growing boy and consumes a lot of food. This is called zoomorphism. Zoomorphism also includes assigning animal-like qualities to gods and inanimate objects. The term comes from the Greek …
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Examples from the Web for gipsy moth
The gipsy-moth (Hypogymna dispar), rare in most parts of Britain, is one of these.
Insect Architecture|James Rennie