moult

British  

/ məʊlt /

verb

1. (of birds, mammals, reptiles, and arthropods) to shed (feathers, hair, skin, or cuticle)

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noun

1. the periodic process of moulting See also ecdysis

Other Word Forms

• moulter noun

Etymology

Origin of moult

C14 mouten, from Old English mūtian, as in bimūtian to exchange for, from Latin mūtāre to change

Example Sentences

Each moult leaves a capsule behind, forming a stack thought to confuse predators.

From BBC

Historically, brightly coloured lobsters were thought to be more vulnerable to predators, especially when young or moulting.

From BBC

I feel like I moulted out of an old skin and I'm a new woman!

From BBC

Lobsters and other crustaceans, for example, keep a supply of ACC in their stomachs, which they use to build a new shell after moulting.

From Science Daily

The compounds identified suggest that the fluid is derived from moulting fluids, which are produced when the larvae shed their outer cuticle as they develop into pupae.

From Scientific American