beetle

¹

[ beet-l ]

noun

1. any of numerous insects of the order Coleoptera, characterized by hard, horny forewings that cover and protect the membranous flight wings.
2. (loosely) any of various insects resembling the beetle, as a cockroach.

verb (used without object)

, bee·tled, bee·tling.

1. Chiefly British. to move quickly; scurry:

   He beetled off to catch the train.

beetle

²

[ beet-l ]

noun

1. a heavy hammering or ramming instrument, usually of wood, used to drive wedges, force down paving stones, compress loose earth, etc.
2. any of various wooden instruments for beating linen, mashing potatoes, etc.

verb (used with object)

, bee·tled, bee·tling.

1. to use a beetle on; drive, ram, beat, or crush with a beetle.
2. to finish (cloth) with a beetling machine.

beetle

³

[ beet-l ]

adjective

1. projecting; overhanging:

   beetle brows.

verb (used without object)

, bee·tled, bee·tling.

1. to project; jut out; overhang:

   a cliff that beetles over the sea; his mustache and beetling brows; thick eyebrows beetling over blue eyes.

2. to hang or tower over in a threatening or menacing manner:

   The prospect of bankruptcy beetled over him.

beetle

¹

/ ˈbiːtəl /

noun

1. any insect of the order Coleoptera , having biting mouthparts and forewings modified to form shell-like protective elytra coleopteran
2. a game played with dice in which the players draw or assemble a beetle-shaped form

verb

1. informal.
   to scuttle or scurry; hurry

beetle

²

/ ˈbiːtəl /

verb

1. intr to overhang; jut

adjective

1. overhanging; prominent

beetle

³

/ ˈbiːtəl /

noun

1. a heavy hand tool, usually made of wood, used for ramming, pounding, or beating
2. a machine used to finish cloth by stamping it with wooden hammers

verb

1. to beat or pound with a beetle
2. to finish (cloth) by means of a beetle

Derived Forms

• ˈbeetling, adjective

Other Words From

• beetler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of beetle¹

First recorded before 900; late Middle English bit(t)il, betylle, bityl, Old English bitel(a), betl, derivative of bītan bite

Origin of beetle²

First recorded before 900; Middle English betel, bitille “mallet, hammer,” Old English bītel, bētel, bȳtel (cognate with Middle Low German bētel “chisel”), derivative of bē(a)tan beat

Origin of beetle³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; back formation from beetle-browed none

Word History and Origins

Origin of beetle¹

Old English bitela ; related to bitol teeth, bit , bītan to bite

Origin of beetle²

C14: perhaps related to beetle ¹

Origin of beetle³

Old English bīetel , from bēatan to beat ; related to Middle Low German bētel chisel, Old Norse beytill penis

Example Sentences

Despite positive reviews and a promising opening weekend in August 2023 — one that knocked blockbuster “Barbie” out of the top box office slot — “Blue Beetle” quickly faded, eventually becoming the lowest-grossing film in the DC Extended Universe.

From Los Angeles Times

But “Blue Beetle’s” return engagement last month, a little more than a year after first hitting theaters, was a triumph for Milagro Cinemas and its founder, veteran producer Moctesuma Esparza, 75.

From Los Angeles Times

A predominantly Latino audience, including children in Blue Beetle costumes, came to cheer the first Latino comic book character to headline his own live-action superhero saga.

From Los Angeles Times

Both Mendoza and Galvez had come to see “Blue Beetle” even though they had seen it before.

From Los Angeles Times

Ingo Arndt captured the red wood ants efficiently dismembering a blue ground beetle to carry into their nest.

From BBC

Related Words

• ant
• aphid
• bee
• butterfly
• cockroach
• dragonfly
• flea
• fruit fly
• gnat
• grasshopper
• ladybug
• mite
• mosquito
• moth
• pest
• spider
• termite
• tick