| Gipsy moth | { or }. A tussock moth (Lymantria dispar or Porthetria dispar or Ocneria dispar) native of the Old World, but accidentally introduced into eastern Massachusetts about 1869, where its caterpillars have done great damage to fruit, shade, and forest trees of many kinds. The male gypsy moth is yellowish brown, the female white, and larger than the male. In both sexes the wings are marked by dark lines and a dark lunule. The caterpillars, when full-grown, have a grayish mottled appearance, with blue tubercles on the anterior and red tubercles on the posterior part of the body, all giving rise to long yellow and black hairs. They usually pupate in July and the moth appears in August. The eggs are laid on tree trunks, rocks, etc., and hatch in the spring. By 1980 the range of habitat had advanced as far south as New Jersey, and by 1995 significant populations were found as far west as the Mississippi valley. Initial population surges along the advancing front of the inhabited area cause great damage due to defoliation of trees by the caterpillars, but over time predators, disease and other natural controlling factors tend to reduce the populations to levels not so injurious to local foliage. Much money and effort has been expended trying to control, slow, or limit the spread of gypsy moths in the United States. [ PJC ] Variants: Gypsy moth |
| Gypsy | n.; pl. Gypsies [ OE. Gypcyan, F. égyptien Egyptian, gypsy, L. Aegyptius. See Egyptian. ] [ Also spelled gipsy and gypsey. ] 1. One of a vagabond race, whose tribes, coming originally from India, entered Europe in the 14th or 15th century, and are now scattered over Turkey, Russia, Hungary, Spain, England, etc., living by theft, fortune telling, horsejockeying, tinkering, etc. Cf. Bohemian, Romany. [ 1913 Webster ] Like a right gypsy, hath, at fast and loose,
Beguiled me to the very heart of loss. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The language used by the gypsies. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A dark-complexioned person. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. A cunning or crafty person. [ Colloq. ] Prior. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Gypsy | a. Pertaining to, or suitable for, gypsies. [ 1913 Webster ]
Gypsy hat, a woman's or child's broad-brimmed hat, usually of straw or felt. --
Gypsy winch, a small winch, which may be operated by a crank, or by a ratchet and pawl through a lever working up and down. [ 1913 Webster ]
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