hummingbird moth

noun

1. hawk moth.

hummingbird moth

noun

1. another name for the hawk moth

Word History and Origins

Origin of hummingbird moth¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Example Sentences

I was sitting on the kitchen floor of a cottage in France swearing my head off and a hummingbird moth, tiny and delicate, flew round me twice.

From The Guardian

He wiped his tongue on a branch, and then, to my astonishment, his wings began to whirl as if he were getting up steam, and presently they lifted him from his twig, and he went whirring off as softly as a hummingbird moth, among the oak sprays.

From Project Gutenberg

Blessings on the man who first invented the scarlet geranium, and thereby brought the Hummingbird moth to the window-sill; for, though seen ever so often, I can always watch it again hovering over the petals and taking the honey, and away again into the bright sunlight.

From Project Gutenberg