any beetle of the family Dermestidae, whose members are destructive at both larval and adult stages to a wide range of stored organic materials such as wool, fur, feathers, and meat. They include the bacon (or larder), cabinet, carpet, leather, and museum beetles
Word origin
C19: from New Latin dermestida, from Greek dermēstēs, from derma skin + esthiein to eat
dermestid in American English
(dərˈmɛstɪd)
noun
any of a family (Dermestidae) of small, drab-colored beetles whose larvae and adults are destructive to hides, furs, woolens, cereals, etc.
Word origin
< ModL Dermestidae < Gr dermēstēs, a leather-eating worm < derma, skin (see derma1) + esthiein, to eat < esthi, imper. of edmenai, eat