moult

/ məʊlt /

verb

1. (of birds, mammals, reptiles, and arthropods) to shed (feathers, hair, skin, or cuticle)

noun

1. the periodic process of moulting See also ecdysis

Derived Forms

• ˈmoulter, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of moult¹

C14 mouten, from Old English mūtian, as in bimūtian to exchange for, from Latin mūtāre to change

Example Sentences

I feel like I moulted out of an old skin and I'm a new woman!

From BBC

Lobsters and other crustaceans, for example, keep a supply of ACC in their stomachs, which they use to build a new shell after moulting.

From Science Daily

The compounds identified suggest that the fluid is derived from moulting fluids, which are produced when the larvae shed their outer cuticle as they develop into pupae.

From Scientific American

They also de-bark conifers, allowing native species to flourish, and their moulted fur provides insulating material for nesting birds.

From BBC

The bison also de-bark the conifers, allowing native species to flourish, with even their moulted fur expected to provide insulating material for nesting birds.

From BBC