| 释义 |
cankerworm|ˈkæŋkəwɜːm|
[canker n. 4.]
1. A caterpillar that destroys buds and leaves, a canker (sense 4).
b. spec. (in U.S.) The larva of the Geometra brumata or winter moth.
1530Palsgr. 202/2 Cancker worme, uer de chancre. 1611Bible Joel i. 4 That which the locust hath left, hath the canker-worme eaten. 1634Canne Necess. Separ. (1849) 36 Viperous generation, caterpillars, moths, canker-worms. 1820Scott Monast. v, Pestilential heresy..as a canker⁓worm in the rose-garland of the Spouse. 1841Emerson Lect. Times Wks. (Bohn) II. 260 The canker-worms have crawled to the topmost bough of the wild elm. 1863Longfellow Birds Killingw. 196 From the trees spun down the canker⁓worms upon the passers-by.
2. fig.
1580in Farr S.P. (1845) II. 307 Unto the minde a canker⁓worme of care. 1641Milton Ch. Govt. vi. (1851) 121 Must tradition..be the perpetuall canker-worme to eat out Gods commandments? 1858Froude Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 148 Lies..are cankerworms, and spoil all causes, good or bad. |