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noc·tu·id

(nŏkch-ĭd)

Any of numerous usually brown or gray night-flying moths of the family Noctuidae, many of which have larvae, such as the cutworms and armyworms, that are agricultural pests. Also called owlet moth.

[From New Latin Noctuidae, family name, from Noctua, type genus, from Latin noctua, night owl; see nek^w-t- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

noctu·id adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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