The larva of a caddisfly, especially one used as bait for fishing; also the protective case it constructs from sand, plant material, and debris.
Etymology uncertain; possibly derived from archaic or dialectal terms for cloth or fabric, since caddis cloth is a type of woven material and the larval cases resemble woven tubes. Alternative theories suggest connection to Scots or Mediterranean trade languages. The term has been used since at least the 16th century in English.
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