Why a caterpillar is considered an insect?
That they can have a hairy look is a reason for calling them caterpillars.Specifically, the word can be traced back to the Middle English catyrpel. It comes from the Late Latin catta pilosa by way of the Old French chatepelose and the Old North French caterpilose. The original meaning in French and Latin was "shaggy cat", probably in reference to such hairy-looking caterpillars as the woolly bear (Pyrrharctia Isabella).