The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Silverfish \Sil"ver*fish`\, n.
   1. (Zool.)
      (a) The tarpum.
      (b) A white variety of the goldfish.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. one of a variety of insects of the order Thysanura,
      especially Lepisma saccharina, which may infest houses,
      and eats starched clothing and sized papers. See
      Lepisma.
      [PJC]

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]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Lepisma saccharina
    n 1: silver-grey wingless insect found in houses feeding on book
         bindings and starched clothing [syn: silverfish, Lepisma
         saccharina]