The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Lepisma \Le*pis"ma\ (l[-e]*p[i^]z"m[.a]), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
le`pisma peel, fr. lepi`s -i`dos, a scale.] (Zool.)
A genus of wingless thysanurous insects having an elongated
flattened body, covered with shining scales and terminated by
seven unequal bristles. A common species (Lepisma
saccharina) is found in houses, and often injures books and
furniture; it feeds on starch and eats sized paper and
starched clothes. Called also shiner, silverfish, silver
witch, silver moth, and furniture bug.
[1913 Webster +PJC]