Pronunciation: ( ˌ )d ə r- ' mes-t ə d
Function: noun
Etymology: ultimately from Greek derm ē st ē s, a leather-eating worm, literally, skin eater, from derm- + edmenai to eat ― more at EAT
Date: circa 1888
: any of a family (Dermestidae) of beetles with clubbed antennae that are very destructive to organic material of animal origin (as dried meat, wool, or museum specimens)
– dermestid adjective