Meanings
nounermine moth (plural ermine moths)
plural ermine moths
- A white moth with black spots (especially Yponomeuta padella of Europe).
- Any of the family Yponomeutidae.
- Any of certain white bombycid moths of America.
Origin
From the resemblance to ermine.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish pihlajankehrääjäkoi, kehrääjäkoi
- pihlajankehrääjäkoiYponomeuta padella
- kehrääjäkoiany moth of the family Yponomeutidae
- silkkikehrääjäwhite bombycid moth of America
German Gespinstmotte
- Gespinstmotteany moth of the family Yponomeutidae
Cite this entry
APA
ermine moth. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ermine%20moth
MLA
“ermine moth.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ermine%20moth. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ermine moth,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ermine%20moth.
Source: ermine moth on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.