der·mes·tid (dər-mĕstĭd)
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Tweet n. Any of various beetles of the family Dermestidae, having larvae that feed chiefly on materials of animal origin such as fur, hides, wool, and stored food. [From New Latin Dermēstidae, family name, from Dermēstēs, type genus, from Greek dermēstēs, worm that eats skin or leather, derma, skin; see der- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots, edō, es-, to eat; see ed- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] der·mestid adj. |
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