The story
Partial calque of translingual Antheraea polyphemus, named after Polyphemus due to the false eye patterns on their wings.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
polyphemus moth
Today it means: A tan-coloured North American moth of species Antheraea polyphemus (family Saturniidae), with large, purplish eyespots on the hind wings. Full definition →