mothball
mothball Lexical Profile
mothball Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A state of indefinite protective storage, inactivity, or suspension for equipment, facilities, or plans (usually used in the plural).
"The airline brought several older passenger jets out of mothballs to meet the sudden surge in summer travel demand."
A small, pungent pellet of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene placed among stored clothing and textiles to repel or kill fabric-eating moth larvae.
"The vintage wool coat from the attic still carried the unmistakable scent of mothballs."
• verb
To take a piece of equipment, facility, or factory out of active service while maintaining it in working condition for possible future use.
"The energy company decided to mothball the aging power plant until market conditions improved."
To postpone, suspend, or set aside a project, plan, or idea indefinitely.
"The city council voted to mothball the downtown redevelopment proposal due to budget shortfalls."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century as a compound of 'moth' and 'ball' to describe chemical pellets placed in stored clothing. The figurative verb sense meaning to put equipment or plans into long-term storage emerged after World War II, when the United States Navy sealed decommissioned warships in protective coatings to preserve them for potential future use.