Caterpillar - Caterpillar

Japanese: 芋虫 - いもむし

〘Noun〙① A common name for butterfly and moth larvae other than those called caterpillars or caterpillars. Particularly a common name for moth larvae of the Sphingidae family. This name comes from the fact that they feed on taro and sweet potato leaves. Their bodies are cylindrical and almost hairless. They have horn-like protrusions on the back of their tails. Most of their bodies are green, and some have markings. [Season: Autumn] [Nippo Jisho (1603-04)]② Based on the swollen appearance of ①, this is used to describe a person who is angry and pouting. *Haikai poem, Sonobukuro (1690) Winter "Imomushi ni niburi no mei ni tatsu (Gekka)"③ A word used to insult someone. ※Joruri, Sochocho Kuruwa Nikki (1749), vol. 5 "Oh, I'll give you a taste, caterpillar, shall I take it away?" ④ = Caterpillar Rolling [Essay, Morisada Manko (1837-53)] ⑤ The name of a toy. A paper-mache caterpillar is filled with balls of soil, and when it is placed on a split bamboo and moved up and down, it rolls around. Tawara Korobashi. Tawara Gaeri.

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① チョウ、ガの幼虫などで、青虫、毛虫と呼ばれるもの以外のものの俗称。特にスズメガ科のガの幼虫の俗称。サトイモやサツマイモの葉を食べることからこの名がある。体は円筒状でほとんど無毛。尾部背面に角状突起がある。体色は緑色のものが多く、斑紋のあるものもある。《季・秋》〔日葡辞書（1603‐04）〕② ①がむくむくしたさまをしているところから、腹をたて、ふくれっつらをしている人をたとえていう。※俳諧・其袋（1690）冬「いもむしは何にいぶりの名にはたつ〈月下〉」③ 人をののしっていう語。※浄瑠璃・双蝶蝶曲輪日記（1749）五「ヤア芋虫めら味をやる、それ奪はして置かうか」④ ＝いもむし（芋虫）ころころ〔随筆・守貞漫稿（1837‐53）〕⑤ 玩具の名。張子製の芋虫の中に、土をまるめて入れ、割竹の上にのせて上下に動かすと、ころがり動きまわる。たわらころばし。たわらがえり。

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