Meanings
plural polyphemus moths
- A tan-coloured North American moth of species Antheraea polyphemus (family Saturniidae), with large, purplish eyespots on the hind wings.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounvery large yellowish-brown American silkworm moth with large eyespots on hind wings; larvae feed on fruit and shade trees
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Partial calque of translingual Antheraea polyphemus, named after Polyphemus due to the false eye patterns on their wings.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
polyphemus moth. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyphemus%20moth
“polyphemus moth.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyphemus%20moth. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “polyphemus moth,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyphemus%20moth.
Source: polyphemus moth on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.