moult

== English == === Alternative forms === molt (US) === Etymology === From Middle English mouten, from Old English *mutian (cf. bemutian), from Latin mūtō, mūtāre. Doublet of mute and mutate. Un-etymological ⟨l⟩ was introduced into the spelling by mistakenly assuming a French origin with -l- (compare fault, vault and solder with correctly restored etymological ⟨l⟩). === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /moʊlt/ (UK) IPA(key): /mɒlt/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /məʊlt/ Rhymes: -əʊlt === Noun === moult (plural moults) The process of shedding or losing a covering of fur, feathers or skin etc. Synonyms: ecdysis, moulting The skin or feathers cast off during the process of moulting. Synonym: exuvia ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === moult (third-person singular simple present moults, present participle moulting, simple past and past participle moulted) (intransitive) To shed or lose a covering of hair or fur, feathers, skin, horns, etc, and replace it with a fresh one. Synonym: shed Hyponym: slough (transitive) To shed in such a manner. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === === Further reading === moulting on Wikipedia.Wikipedia == French == === Etymology === Inherited from Middle French moult, from Old French mut (with a silent ⟨l⟩ inserted per the Latin etymon), from earlier Old French mult~molt, from Latin multus, from Proto-Indo-European *ml̥tos (“crumbled, crumpled”, past passive participle). After having largely disappeared from the spoken language, where it was replaced by beaucoup, the term is now occasionally heard again, often with a spelling-pronunciation. === Pronunciation === (traditional) IPA(key): /mu/, (liaison) /mu.t‿/ Homophones: mou, mous (spelling pronunciation) IPA(key): /mult/, /mul/ === Adjective === moult (feminine moulte, masculine plural moults, feminine plural moultes) (formerly archaic or regional) many; a lot of Synonym: beaucoup === Adverb === moult (archaic or regional) much; a lot ==== Usage notes ==== Used both as invariable and variable adjective: === References === === Further reading === “moult”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 === Anagrams === mulot == Middle French == === Alternative forms === mlt (manuscript abbreviation) === Etymology === From Old French molt, mout, from Latin multus. === Adverb === moult much; a lot ==== Descendants ==== French: moult