moth-eaten

See also: motheaten

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (Southern England):

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Adjective

moth-eaten (comparative more moth-eaten, superlative most moth-eaten)

1. Containing holes by having been eaten by moth larvae.
2. (figurative, by extension) Old and in poor condition.
   • 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 72:

     "A bit moth-eaten, aren't they?" he said doubtfully. "I mean to say, bumpy in the springs and all that." "Oh, of course, I'd have them resprung and fresh covers made if you bought them."

Translations

containing moth holes

• Finnish: koinsyömä
• French: mangé aux mites (fr)
• German: mottenzerfressen (de)
• Greek: σκωροφαγωμένος (skorofagoménos)

  Ancient: σητόβρωτος (sētóbrōtos)

• Manx: lhemeenagh
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: møllspist

  Nynorsk: mølleten

• Old English: moþfreten
• Russian: изъе́денный мо́лью m (izʺjédennyj mólʹju)
• Spanish: apolillado (es)
• Swedish: maläten (sv)
• Welsh: yn dyllau pryfed

old and in poor condition

• Finnish: koinsyömä
• French: mangé aux mites (fr)
• Greek: σκωροφαγωμένος (skorofagoménos)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: møllspist

  Nynorsk: mølleten

• Spanish: apolillado (es)
• Swedish: maläten (sv)