Hawk-moth
1Hawk moth — (m[o^]th ; 115). (Zo[ o]l.) Any moth of the family {Sphingid[ae]}, of which there are numerous genera and species. They are large, handsome moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed. They fly… …
2Hawk moth — Hawk Hawk (h[add]k), n. [OE. hauk (prob. fr. Icel.), havek, AS. hafoc, heafoc; akin to D. havik, OHG. habuh, G. habicht, Icel. haukr, Sw. h[ o]k, Dan. h[ o]g, prob. from the root of E. heave.] (Zo[ o]l.) One of numerous species and genera of… …
3hawk moth — hawk′ moth n. ent any of numerous moths of the family Sphingidae, noted for their swift flight and ability to hover while sipping nectar from flowers Also called sphingid,sphinx moth • Etymology: 1775–85 …
4hawk moth — n. any of a family (Sphingidae) of moths with a thick, tapering body, slender wings, and a long feeding tube used for sucking the nectar of flowers; sphinx moth …
5hawk moth — noun any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed • Syn: ↑hawkmoth, ↑sphingid, ↑sphinx moth, ↑hummingbird moth • Hypernyms: ↑moth • Hyponyms: ↑ …
6hawk moth — any of numerous moths of the family Sphingidae, noted for their very swift flight and ability to hover while sipping nectar from flowers. Also called sphingid, sphinx moth, hummingbird moth. [1775 85] * * * or sphinx moth Any moth of the… …
7hawk moth — Sphinx Sphinx, n. [L., from Gr. sfi gx, usually derived from sfi ggein to bind tight or together, as if the Throttler.] 1. (a) In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the… …
8hawk moth — noun Any moth of the family Sphingidae. Syn: hornworm, sphinx moth …
9hawk-moth — n. Death s head moth …
10hawk moth — noun Date: 1785 any of a family (Sphingidae) of stout bodied moths with a long proboscis, long narrow more or less pointed forewings, and small hind wings called also sphinx …
