mothy
Full of holes
Mothy describes something resembling or affected by moths—damaged by the insects that eat fabric, or having a dusty, fluttering quality like moth wings.
A mothy sweater has holes; a mothy light attracts the insects; mothy curtains suggest neglect and age.
The word is informal and uncommon: The attic smelled mothy and forgotten.
Coated with fine particles
- powderyReduced to fine particles
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- wingsLimbs for flight
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
gossamer · diaphanous · wispy · papery · frail · ethereal · feathery · translucent
Dark hours daily
- lamplightIllumination from a lamp
- flameBurning gas made visible
- attractionPull toward something
- flutterRapid light movement
circling · moonlit · darkness · drawn · luminous · candle · bulb · glow
Openings through material
- woolSheared animal fiber
- cashmereFine goat-derived textile
- silkFine woven insect fiber
- fabricWoven or knit material
garment · closet · storage · mothballs · cedar · larvae · damage · sweater
Butterfly and moth order
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- wingspanTip-to-tip extent
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- proboscisElongated animal head appendage
caterpillar · chrysalis · pupa · larva · metamorphosis · imago · cocoon · entomology
dusty
Coated with fine particles
delicate · gossamer · diaphanous · wispy · papery · frail · ethereal · feathery · translucent · insubstantial
night
Dark hours daily
- lamplightIllumination from a lamp
- flameBurning gas made visible
- attractionPull toward something
flutter · circling · moonlit · darkness · drawn · luminous · candle · bulb · glow · dusk
holes
Openings through material
fabric · garment · closet · storage · mothballs · cedar · larvae · damage · sweater · carpet
lepidoptera
Butterfly and moth order
proboscis · caterpillar · chrysalis · pupa · larva · metamorphosis · imago · cocoon · entomology · thorax
wingbeat
Single wing oscillation
darting · flicker · quiver · soft · silent · beating · rapid · gentle · waver · drift
mothypristine
Pure and untouched
intact · undamaged · immaculate · well-preserved · whole
mothywell-preserved
Remaining in original state
well-kept · protected · maintained · mothproofed · treasured
- pantry mothsInsects infesting stored food
- moth ballCloset insect repellent
- motley crewDiverse, disorganized group
- night mothEvening-flying winged insect
- moth repellentSubstance deterring fabric pests
- clothes mothInsect damaging fabric storage
moth, moths, motley, mottled, mottle, moth-eaten, mothproof, mottling, mothlike