Meaning

noun a wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth

noun a large tracked vehicle that is propelled by two endless metal belts; frequently used for moving earth in construction and farm work

originFrom Middle English catirpel, catirpeller, probably from Old Northern French catepeluse (Modern French chatte + pileuse (“hairy cat”)), from Late Latin catta + pilōsa. The sense "rapacious, extortionate person" arose by association with obsolete piller (“plunderer”). See Modern Norman cattepeleuse. Displaced native kaleworm, from Middle English cowle worm, cale worme (“caterpillar, corn weevil”),…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0