caterpillar

noun

1. The larva of a butterfly or moth; leafworm.

   “The bird just ate that green caterpillar.”

   “A caterpillar is letting itself down on a thread, twirling slowly like a rope artist, spiralling towards his chest. It’s a luscious, unreal green, like a gumdrop, and covered with tiny bright hairs.”

2. A vehicle with a caterpillar track; a crawler.
3. A set of subtrees of a tree.
4. (obsolete)A rapacious, extortionate person preying upon the community.

   “Bristow Castle, which they say is held By Busbie, Bagot, and their Complices, The Caterpillers of the Commonwealth, Which I haue sworne to weed, and plucke away.”

verb

1. (intransitive)To move along slowly, drawing one's body up, in the manner of a caterpillar.