[molt] vb [alter. of ME mouten, fr. OE -mutian to change, fr. L mutare--more at mutable] vi (1591): to shed hair, feathers, shell, horns, or an outer layer periodically ~ vt: to cast off (an outer covering) periodically; specif: to throw off (the old cuticle)--used of arthropods -- molt.er n
[2]molt n (1815): the act or process of molting; specif: ecdysis