Death's-head Moth
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Acherontla atropos, is so called from the markings on the back of the thorax, which closely resemble a skull. It is also called the Hawk Moth.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Death's-head Moth” mean?
Acherontla atropos, is so called from the markings on the back of the thorax, which closely resemble a skull. It is also called the Hawk Moth.
Is “Death's-head Moth” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.