First Known Use: circa 1888
Dictionary
dermestid
noun der·mes·tid \(ˌ)dər-ˈmes-təd\
Definition of DERMESTID
: any of a family (Dermestidae) of beetles with clubbed antennae that are very destructive to organic material of animal origin (as dried meat, wool, or museum specimens)
— dermestid adjective
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Origin of DERMESTID
ultimately from Greek dermēstēs, a leather-eating worm, literally, skin eater, from derm- + edmenai to eat — more at eat
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