combining form of L. talpa mole, as in † Talpicide [see -CIDE 2], the killing of moles; Talpiform a., mole-shaped; Talpify v. trans. (nonce-wd.), to make mole-like (in allusive use). So Talpid Zool. [f. mod.L. Talpid-æ], an animal of the family Talpidæ, a mole; Talpine a., pertaining to the moles, of the sub-family Talpinæ; Talpoid [-OID, so F. talpoïde], a. having the form or structure of a mole; sb. an animal allied to the mole.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., *Talpicide, the taking or killing moles or woants.
1867. Jrnl. Agric., III. II. 105. (article title), Talpicide—Is Mole-massacre Justifiable?
1660. S. Fisher, Rusticks Alarm, Wks. (1679), 326. But J. O. is so totally *talpified, that … he can’t see that Jewish Idolatry nearer home.
1860. Mayne, Expos. Lex., Talpiformis, applied by Latreille to a Family … which resemble the Talpa: *talpiform.
1890. Billings, Nat. Med. Dict., Talpiform, shaped like a mole.
1860. Mayne, Expos. Lex., Talpinus,… *talpine.
