{ } v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Molted or Moulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Molting or Moulting. ] [ OE. mouten, L. mutare. See Mew to molt, and cf. Mute, v. t. ] [ The prevalent spelling is, perhaps, moult; but as the u has not been inserted in the otherwords of this class, as, bolt, colt, dolt, etc., it is desirable to complete the analogy by the spelling molt. ] To shed or cast the hair, feathers, skin, horns, or the like, as an animal or a bird. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]