عُثَيْثَةٌ

diminutive of عُثَّةٌ [n. un. of عُثٌّ, q. v.]. (L.) It is said in a prov.,

عُثَيْثَةٌ تَقْرِمُ جِلْدًا أَمْلَسَا

[A little moth-worm gnawing a smooth skin]: applied to a man endeavouring to make an impression, or produce an effect, upon a thing, and unable to do so: (S, O, L, K: *) and said in contempt of a man and of what the latter says in finding fault with one who is free from faults. (O.)