‖ pyralis
(ˈpɪrəlɪs)
Pl. pyralides (pɪˈrælɪdiːz). Also (in sense 1) in anglicized form (from Fr.) pyralide.
[ad. Gr. πυραλίς a winged insect supposed to live in fire, f. πῦρ fire; also a. obs. F. pyralide ‘a fire-fly or worme bred in the fire’ (Cotgr.).]
† 1. A fabulous fly supposed to live in or be generated by fire. Obs.
| 1588 Greene Planetom. Venus Trag. Wks. (Grosart) V. 60 As the flie Pyralis cannot liue out of the flame. a 1600 Montgomerie Misc. Poems xvii. 41 His pain wes lyk the pyralide, A beist in birning that does breid. 1684 Contempl. State Man ii. vii. (1699) 212 Place us in the Light and Bright One [i.e. flame] of thy Love; where like Pyralides and sacred Salamanders we shall live happy without Pain or Torment. |
2. Entom. [mod.L., Schrank 1801.] A genus of moths typical of the family Pyralidæ. So ˈpyralid, a. resembling or belonging to the Pyralidæ; n. a moth of this family; pyraˈlideous a. = pyralid a.; pyˈralidiform a., resembling the Pyralidæ in form or structure; pyˈralidine a. = pyralid a.
| 1859 H. T. Stainton Man. Brit. Butterfl. & Moths II. 124 The Pyralidina are divided into two main groups:—1. The Pyralideous group. 2. The Crambideous group. The Pyralideous group is further divided into two main sections: 1. The Deltoides. 2. The Pyralites. 1903 Westm. Gaz. 9 Oct. 12/2 In some of the vineyards..in France..great havoc has been wrought by the pyralis. |