The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Locust \Lo"cust\, n. [L. locusta locust, grasshopper. Cf.
Lobster.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of long-winged,
migratory, orthopterous insects, of the family
Acridid[ae], allied to the grasshoppers; esp., (Edipoda
migratoria, syn. Pachytylus migratoria, and Acridium
perigrinum, of Southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the
United States the related species with similar habits are
usually called grasshoppers. See Grasshopper.
[1913 Webster]
Note: These insects are at times so numerous in Africa and
the south of Asia as to devour every green thing; and
when they migrate, they fly in an immense cloud. In the
United States the harvest flies are improperly called
locusts. See Cicada.
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Locust beetle (Zool.), a longicorn beetle (Cyllene
robini[ae]), which, in the larval state, bores holes in
the wood of the locust tree. Its color is brownish black,
barred with yellow. Called also locust borer.
Locust bird (Zool.) the rose-colored starling or pastor of
India. See Pastor.
Locust hunter (Zool.), an African bird; the beefeater.
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2. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Bot.) The locust tree. See Locust
Tree (definition, note, and phrases).
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Locust bean (Bot.), a commercial name for the sweet pod of
the carob tree.
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