witchetty grub

[ wich-uh-tee ]
/ ˈwɪtʃ ə ti /

noun

the large white larva of any of several species of moth and beetle of Australia, especially of the moth genus Cossus, occurring in decaying wood and traditionally used as food by Aborigines.

Origin of witchetty grub

1890–95; < Adnyamadhanha (Australian Aboriginal language spoken around Lake Torrens, South Australia) wityati witchetty grub, perhaps equivalent to v. base witya climb + varti grub, insect

Example sentences from the Web for witchetty grub

  • The witchetty-grub men, for instance, want the grubs to multiply, that there may be plenty for their fellows to eat.

    Anthropology |Robert Marett

British Dictionary definitions for witchetty grub

witchetty grub
/ (ˈwɪtʃɪtɪ) /

noun

the wood-boring edible larva of certain Australian moths and beetles

Word Origin for witchetty grub

C19: witchetty, from a native Australian language