| Locust | n. [ L. locusta locust, grasshopper. Cf. Lobster. ] 1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of long-winged, migratory, orthopterous insects, of the family Acrididæ, allied to the grasshoppers; esp., (Edipoda migratoria, syn. Pachytylus migratoria, and Acridium perigrinum, of Southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the United States the related species with similar habits are usually called grasshoppers. See Grasshopper. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ These insects are at times so numerous in Africa and the south of Asia as to devour every green thing; and when they migrate, they fly in an immense cloud. In the United States the harvest flies are improperly called locusts. See Cicada. [ 1913 Webster ]
Locust beetle (Zool.), a longicorn beetle (Cyllene robiniæ), which, in the larval state, bores holes in the wood of the locust tree. Its color is brownish black, barred with yellow. Called also locust borer. --
Locust bird (Zool.) the rose-colored starling or pastor of India. See Pastor. --
Locust hunter (Zool.), an African bird; the beefeater. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] (Bot.) The locust tree. See Locust Tree (definition, note, and phrases). [ 1913 Webster ]
Locust bean (Bot.), a commercial name for the sweet pod of the carob tree. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Locust tree | pos>n. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] (Bot.) A large North American tree of the genus Robinia (Robinia Pseudacacia), producing large slender racemes of white, fragrant, papilionaceous flowers, and often cultivated as an ornamental tree. In England it is called acacia. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ The name is also applied to other trees of different genera, especially to those of the genus Hymenæa, of which Hymenæa Courbaril is a lofty, spreading tree of South America; also to the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), a tree growing in the Mediterranean region. [ 1913 Webster ]
Honey locust tree (Bot.), a tree of the genus Gleditschia ) Gleditschia triacanthus), having pinnate leaves and strong branching thorns; -- so called from a sweet pulp found between the seeds in the pods. Called also simply honey locust. --
Water locust tree (Bot.), a small swamp tree (Gleditschia monosperma), of the Southern United States. [ 1913 Webster ]
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