Where does “litter moth” come from?

litter moth (English) comes from English litter, from Middle English litere.

litter moth (English): Any erebid moth in the subfamily Herminiinae

Definitions

  1. Any erebid moth in the subfamily Herminiinae

Ancestry of “litter moth”, step by step

litter moth traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English litter

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlitterA platform mounted on two shafts, or a more...
2Middle Englishlitere—

via English moth

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmothA usually nocturnal insect of the order...
2Hindiमोठmat, mot
Every word from Middle English litere →