- beetle
- beetlebeetle1 [bēt′'l]n.[ME bitil < OE bitela < bītan, BITE]1. any of a large order (Coleoptera) of insects, including weevils, with biting mouthparts and hard front wings (elytra) that cover the membranous hind wings when the hind wings are folded2. any insect resembling a beetlebeetle2 [bēt′'l]n.[ME & OE (Anglian) betel, mallet, hammer: ult. connected with BEAT]1. a heavy mallet, usually wooden, for driving wedges, tamping earth, etc.2. a household mallet or pestle for mashing or beating3. a club used in finishing handmade linen4. a machine for finishing cloth by beating it over or between rollersvt.beetled, beetling1. to pound with a beetle2. to put a glossy finish on (cloth) by flattening the fibers with a beetlebeetle3 [bēt′'l]vi.beetled, beetling [prob. back-form. < BEETLE-BROWED]to project or jut; overhangadj.jutting; overhanging: also beetling
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.