caterpillar
/ˈkætəpɪlə(r)/noun
1
- the larva of a butterfly or moth, which has a segmented worm-like body with three pairs of true legs and several pairs of leg-like appendages. Caterpillars may be hairy, have warning coloration, or be coloured to resemble their surroundings.毛虫, 蠋。
1.1
- (in general use) any similar larva of various insects, especially sawflies（尤指叶蜂等昆虫的）幼虫（统称）。
2
- （亦作caterpillar track或tread）trademark an articulated steel band passing round the wheels of a vehicle for travel on rough ground〈商标〉履带。
2.1
- a vehicle with such tracks履带式车辆。
词源
late Middle English: perhaps from a variant of Old French chatepelose, literally 'hairy cat'， influenced by obsolete piller 'ravager'. The association with 'cat' is found in other languages， e.g. Swiss German Teufelskatz （literally 'devil's cat'）， Lombard gatta （literally 'cat'）. Compare with French chaton, English CATKIN, resembling hairy caterpillars.