termes

What it means

1. A termite.

   The termes of South Africa is not the destructive species.

   1834, Thomas Pringle, chapter VIII, in African Sketches, page 287

   2 more examples

   These turret nests, built by two different species of Termites.

   1781, Henry Smeathman, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, LXXI, page 160

   The termes, or what is called the white ant, infests this island.

   1800, The Asiatic Annual Register, page 5/2

In a sentence

These turret nests, built by two different species of Termites.

1781, Henry Smeathman, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, LXXI, page 160

Where it comes from

1. Latintarmes“woodworm”
2. Late Latintermes
3. translingualTermes
4. Englishtermes

From the translingual Termes (genus name), from Late Latin termes, late variant of Classical Latin tarmes (“woodworm”).