Cāt'er-pīl'lar, n.

n. [O. Eng. cater-piller, Prov. Eng. caterpillar, a cock-chafer, probably from cate, cates, food, and O. Eng. piller, plunderer, robber, because it eats up leaves and fruits.]

1. (Entom.) The larve or larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, where the larves have legs for crawling. The caterpillar has the general form of a worm or grub, and feeds on leaves and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive.
2. (Bot.) A plant of different species of the genus Scorpiurus. London.