molter

molt

M0376600 (mōlt)v. molt·ed, molt·ing, molts v.intr. To shed part or all of a coat or an outer covering, such as feathers, cuticle, or skin, which is then replaced by a new growth.v.tr. To shed or cast off (a bodily covering).n.1. The act or process of molting.2. The material cast off during molting.

---

[Alteration of Middle English mouten, from Old English -mūtian (in bemūtian, to exchange for), from Latin mūtāre, to change; see mei- in Indo-European roots.]

---

molt′er n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

molter - an animal (especially birds and arthropods and reptiles) that periodically shed their outer layer (feathers or cuticle or skin or hair)moulteranimal, animate being, beast, creature, fauna, brute - a living organism characterized by voluntary movement