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Caterpillar vs Maggot - What's the difference?

caterpillar | maggot |

As nouns the difference between caterpillar and maggot

is that caterpillar is the larva of a butterfly or moth; leafworm while maggot is a soft, legless larva of a fly or other dipterous insect, that often eats decomposing organic matter.

caterpillar

English

(wikipedia caterpillar)

Alternative forms

* caterpiller (archaic)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The larva of a butterfly or moth; leafworm.
    • The bird just ate that green caterpillar .
  • A vehicle with a caterpillar track; a crawler.
    • Synonyms
    * (moth or butterfly larva)
    Derived terms
    * caterpillar catcher * caterpillar eater * caterpillar hunter * caterpillar track * tent caterpillar

    See also

    * pillar

    maggot

    English

    (wikipedia maggot)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A soft, legless larva of a fly or other dipterous insect, that often eats decomposing organic matter.
  • A term of insult for a 'worthless' person, as if a bug.
    • Drop and give me fifty, maggot .
  • (obsolete) A whimsy or fancy.
    • Mr. Beveridge's Maggot , an old country dance [http://www.izaak.unh.edu/nhltmd/indexes/dancingmaster/Dance/Play4199.htm].
  • * 1620 , , Women Pleased , III.iv.
    • Are you not mad, my friend? What time o' th' moon is't? / Have not you maggots in your brain?

    Synonyms

    * (soft legless larva) grub

    Derived terms

    * act the maggot * maggoted * maggoting * maggotish * maggotorium * maggoty * maggotiness

    Related terms

    * mawk * mawkish