/silk"werrm'/ , n.
1. the larva of the Chinese silkworm moth, Bombyx mori, which spins a cocoon of commercially valuable silk.
2. the larva of any of several moths of the family Saturniidae, which spins a silken cocoon.
[ bef. 1000; ME sylkewyrme, OE seolcwyrm. See SILK, WORM ]