See Also: moult(medicine)
moult(1)(dictionary)
moult(2)(dictionary)
moult(dictionary)

moult(2) (iou)



moult verb. Also *molt. ME.
[Corresp. (with intrusive l) to Middle Low German, Middle Dutch muten, Old High German muon (German mause(r)n), from West Germanic, from Latin mutare change: prob. already in Old English (implied in bimutian to exchange).]
verb intrans. Of hair etc.: fall out. Of feathers: be shed in the process of a bird's changing plumage. Also foll. by off. Long rare. ME.
verb intrans. Of a bird: shed feathers in the process of changing plumage. Of an animal: shed a shell, a skin, hair, etc., in the process of acquiring a new growth. LME.
Scientific American Crabs are most vulnerable to attack when they molt. Cage & Aviary Birds They begin to moult into adult colour at about five months old. transf.: B. Bainbridge He was covered in strands of saffron-coloured fur. She had moulted all over him.
verb trans. Of a bird: shed (feathers) in the process of changing plumage. Of an animal: shed (a shell, a skin, hair, etc.) in the process of acquiring a new growth. M16.
D. Attenborough The feathers on which a bird's life is so dependent are regularly moulted and renewed.
moulted ppl adjective (a) that has moulted; deprived of feathers, hair, etc., by moulting; (b) shed during moulting: LME.
moulten ppl adjective = moulted (a): only in L16.