moult

Plural: moults

Noun

periodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles
The process of shedding or losing a covering of fur, feathers or skin etc.
The skin or feathers cast off during the process of moulting.

Verb

Verb Forms: moulted, moulting, moults

To shed old feathers, hair, or skin to make way for new growth.
cast off hair, skin, horn, or feathers
To shed or lose a covering of hair or fur, feathers, skin, horns, etc, and replace it with a fresh one.
To shed in such a manner.

Examples

After a bad rack, he wished he could moult his tiles for a fresh set.
Some birds change colour during their winter moult.

Origin / 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⟩).

Synonyms

ecdysis, exuviate, molt, molting, moulting, shed, slough, exuvia

Scrabble Score: 7

moult: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
moult: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
moult: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

moult: valid Words With Friends Word