moult

Meaning

Noun

1. The process of shedding or losing a covering of fur, feathers or skin etc.
2. The skin or feathers cast off during the process of moulting.

Verb

1. To shed or lose a covering of hair or fur, feathers, skin, horns, etc, and replace it with a fresh one.
2. To shed in such a manner.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/moʊlt/

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⟩).