plum curculio

noun

See under curculio.

Origin of plum curculio

First recorded in 1885–90

Words nearby plum curculio

plugger, plughole, plugola, plugugly, plum, plum curculio, plum duff, plum pudding, plum tomato, plumage, plumate

Definition for plum curculio (2 of 2)

curculio
[ kur-kyoo-lee-oh ]
/ kɜrˈkyu liˌoʊ /

noun, plural cur·cu·li·os.

any of several weevils, especially one of the genus Conotrachelus, as C. nenuphar (plum curculio), which feeds on plums, cherries, and other fruits.

Origin of curculio

1750–60; < Latin: weevil, corn worm

Example sentences from the Web for plum curculio

  • This method will also destroy the plum-curculio in orchards.

    Checking the Waste |Mary Huston Gregory

  • The plum-curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar Herbst) is sometimes a troublesome pest of the peach.

    The Peaches of New York |U. P. Hedrick

British Dictionary definitions for plum curculio

curculio
/ (kɜːˈkjuːlɪˌəʊ) /

noun plural -lios

any of various American weevils, esp Conotrachelus nenuphar (plum curculio), a pest of fruit trees

Word Origin for curculio

C18: from Latin: grain weevil