moth-eaten

adjective

moth-eat·​en ˈmȯth-ˌē-tᵊn How to pronounce moth-eaten (audio)
1
: eaten into by moth larvae
moth-eaten clothes
2

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of moth-eaten was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near moth-eaten

Cite this Entry

“Moth-eaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moth-eaten. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

moth-eaten

adjective
moth-eat·​en
ˈmȯ-ˌthēt-ᵊn
1
: eaten into by moths
moth-eaten clothes
2
: so old as to be no longer acceptable or usable
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!