† quercivorousadj.
Origin: A borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element. Etymons: Latin querci- , quercus , -vorous comb. form.
Etymology: < post-classical Latin querci-, combining form of classical Latin quercus oak (see quercine adj.) + -vorous comb. form; compare -ivorous comb. form. N.E.D. (1902) gives the pronunciation as (kwəɹsi·vŏrəs) /kwɜːˈsɪvərəs/.
Zoology.
Obsolete.
rare.
1858 16 6154 An individual [caterpillar] which had already become quercivorous.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2020).