— molter , n.
/mohlt/ , v.i.
1. (of birds, insects, reptiles, etc.) to cast or shed the feathers, skin, or the like, that will be replaced by a new growth.
v.t.
2. to cast or shed (feathers, skin, etc.) in the process of renewal.
n.
3. an act, process, or an instance of molting.
4. something that is dropped in molting.
Also, esp. Brit., moult .
[ 1300-50; earlier mout (with intrusive -l-; cf. FAULT, ASSAULT), ME mouten, OE -mutian to change (in bi-mutian to exchange for) mutare to change; see MUTATE ]