[beet-l] 
noun, verb, -tled, -tling.| 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. |
| 3. | Chiefly British. to move quickly; scurry: He beetled off to catch the train. |
[beet-l] noun, verb, -tled, -tling.| 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. |
| 3. | to use a beetle on; drive, ram, beat, or crush with a beetle. |
| 4. | to finish (cloth) with a beetling machine. |
[beet-l] adjective, verb, -tled, -tling.| 1. | projecting; overhanging: beetle brows. |
| 2. | to project; jut out; overhang: a cliff that beetles over the sea. |
| 3. | to hang or tower over in a threatening or menacing manner: The prospect of bankruptcy beetled over him. |
| bee·tle 1 (bēt'l) n.
To make one's way or move like a beetle: "Chambermaids . . . beetled from bedroom to bedroom loaded with . . . champagne" (Vanity Fair). [Middle English betil, from Old English bitela, from bītan, to bite; see bheid- in Indo-European roots.] |
| bee·tle 2 (bēt'l) adj. Jutting; overhanging: beetle brows. intr.v. bee·tled, bee·tling, bee·tles To jut; overhang: "The rocks often beetled over the road" (Washington Irving). [From Middle English bitel-brouwed, grim-browed : bitel, sharp (probably from Old English *bitol, biting, from Old English bite, bite; see bit2) + brouwed (from brow, brow; see brow).] |
| bee·tle 3 (bēt'l) n.
[Middle English betel, from Old English bȳtl; see bhau- in Indo-European roots.] |
beetle
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Beetle
(Heb. hargol, meaning "leaper"). Mention of it is made only in Lev. 11:22, where it is obvious the word cannot mean properly the beetle. It denotes some winged creeper with at least four feet, "which has legs above its feet, to leap withal." The description plainly points to the locust (q.v.). This has been an article of food from the earliest times in the East to the present day. The word is rendered "cricket" in the Revised Version.
beetle
any member of the insect order Coleoptera, consisting of the beetles and weevils. It is the largest order of insects, representing about 40 percent of the known insect species. Among the over 350,000 species of Coleoptera are many of the largest and most conspicuous insects, some of which also have brilliant metallic colours, showy patterns, or striking form. Beetles can usually be recognized by their two pairs of wings; the front pair is modified into horny covers (elytra) that hide the rear pair and most of the abdomen and usually meet down the back in a straight line. Coleoptera occur in nearly all climates. They may be divided into four groups: the first three, the Archostemata, the Adephaga, and the Myxophaga, contain relatively few families; the majority of beetles are placed in the fourth group, the Polyphaga.
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