‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. le`pisma peel, fr. lepi`s-i`dos, a scale. ] (Zool.) A genus of wingless thysanurous insects having an elongated flattened body, covered with shining scales and terminated by seven unequal bristles. A common species (Lepisma saccharina) is found in houses, and often injures books and furniture; it feeds on starch and eats sized paper and starched clothes. Called also shiner, silverfish, silver witch, silver moth, and furniture bug. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]
[しみ(gikun);とぎょ(蠧魚), shimi (gikun); togyo ( to sakana )] (n) (1) (uk) true bristletail (any insect of order Thysanura, esp. of family Lepismatidae); (2) (See 大和紙魚) oriental silverfish (Ctenolepisma villosa); (3) (derog) someone who is unable to apply what they have read