MOTH, noun 1. An animal of the genus Phalaena, which breeds in yard and garments, and often does injury by eating the substance and destroying the texture. Matthew 6:19. The name is also applied to the whole genus. 2. Figuratively, that which gradually and silently eats, consumes or wastes any thing. Idle persons are a moth to the community.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI