\Cat"er*pil`lar\, n. [OE. catyrpel, corrupted fr.
OF. chatepelouse, or cate pelue, fr. chate, F. chatte,
she-cat, fem. of chat, L. catus + L. pilosus hairy, or F.
pelu hairy, fr. L. pilus hair. See {Cat}, and {Pile} hair.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) The larval state of a butterfly or any
   lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the
   larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are
   also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have
   three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal
   fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy,
   others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and
   succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many
   of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm,
   cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm.

2. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Scorpiurus}, with pods
   resembling caterpillars.

{Caterpillar catcher}, or {Caterpillar eater} (Zo["o]l.), a
   bird belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on
   caterpillars. The name is also given to several other
   birds.

{Caterpillar hunter} (Zo["o]l.), any species of beetles of
   the genus {Callosoma} and other allied genera of the
   family {Carabid[ae]} which feed habitually upon
   caterpillars.