promethea moth

noun

pro·​me·​thea moth

prə|ˈmēthēə-,

prō|

variants or less commonly prometheus moth

-thēəs-,

-ˌth(y)üs-

: a large American saturniid silkworm moth (Callosamia promethea) having the wings and body chiefly smoky brown in the male and reddish brown in the female and a larva that feeds on sassafras, wild cherry, and other trees and suspends its cocoon from a branch by a silken band compare cecropia moth

Word History

Etymology

promethea from New Latin, from Latin, feminine of prometheus Promethean; prometheus from Greek Promētheus

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!