# moult

> English word · Noun · IPA /moʊlt/ · frequency rank #70,927

## Definitions
1. The process of shedding or losing a covering of fur, feathers or skin etc.
2. The skin or feathers cast off during the process of moulting.

## 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⟩).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/moult