I. molt /məʊlt $ moʊlt/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: mout 'to molt' (14-17 centuries) , from Old English mutian 'to change' , from Latin mutare ; ⇨ ↑ mutate ]
the American spelling of ↑ moult
II. moult BrE AmE British English , molt American English /məʊlt $ moʊlt/ verb [intransitive]
when a bird or animal moults, it loses feathers or hair so that new ones can grow
—moult noun [uncountable and countable]