cockchafer

[ kok-chey-fer ]

noun

1. any of certain scarab beetles, especially the European species, Melolontha melolontha, which is very destructive to forest trees.

cockchafer

/ ˈkɒkˌtʃeɪfə /

noun

1. any of various Old World scarabaeid beetles, esp Melolontha melolontha of Europe, whose larvae feed on crops and grasses Also calledMay beetleMay bug

Word History and Origins

Origin of cockchafer¹

1685–95; cock ¹ (with reference to its size) + chafer

Word History and Origins

Origin of cockchafer¹

C18: from cock ¹+ chafer

Example Sentences

Physiologists cannot yet tell us how it is that ‘of four cells absolutely identical in organic structure and composition, one will grow into Socrates, another into a toadstool, one into a cockchafer, another into a whale.’

From Scientific American

In third grade, he brought in a cockchafer beetle grub for show-and-tell, hoping to impress his classmates.

From New York Times

The English for “hanneton,” it said, was “cockchafer”.

From The Guardian

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had a cockchafer on my wall.

From The Guardian

Eventually, with some more Googling, we deduced that a hanneton was a cockchafer, which was a May bug.

From The Guardian