beetle
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beetle¹
- /ˈbiːtəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯tʰəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯tʰl̩]
- /ˈbiɾəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯ɾəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯ɾl̩]
- /ˈbiʔəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯ʔəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯ʔl̩]
Sounds like Beatle, beadle (t-flapping) · Rhymes with -iːtəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English bitle, bityl, bytylle, from Old English bitula, bitela, bītel (“beetle”), from Proto-West Germanic *bitilō, *bītil, from Proto-Germanic *bitilô, *bītilaz (“that which tends to bite, biter, beetle”), equivalent to bite + -le. Cognate with Old High German bicco (“beetle”), Danish bille (“beetle”), Icelandic bitil, bitul (“a bite, bit”), Faroese bitil (“small piece, bittock”).
noun beetles · bittle · betel · bittil
-
Any of numerous species of insect in the order Coleoptera characterized by a pair of hard, shell-like front wings which cover and protect a pair of rear wings when at rest.
Similar: bug
- A game of chance in which players attempt to complete a drawing of a beetle, different dice rolls allowing them to add the various body parts. Guessing competitions were tackled with much enthusiasm, followed by a beetle drive, and judging by the laughter, this was popular with all.
- Alternative letter-case form of Beetle (“car”). For quotations using this term, see Citations:beetle.
verb beetles · beetling · beetled · bittle · betel
- To move (away) quickly, to scurry away. He beetled off on his vacation.
beetle²
- /ˈbiːtəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯tʰəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯tʰl̩]
- /ˈbiɾəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯ɾəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯ɾl̩]
- /ˈbiʔəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯ʔəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯ʔl̩]
Sounds like Beatle, beadle (t-flapping) · Rhymes with -iːtəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English bitel-brouwed (“beetle-browed”). Possibly after beetle, from the fact that some beetles have bushy antennae.
adjective more beetle · most beetle
- Protruding, jutting, overhanging. beetle brows
verb beetles · beetling · beetled
- To loom over; to extend or jut (above). The heavy chimney beetled over the thatched roof.
beetle³
- /ˈbiːtəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯tʰəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯tʰl̩]
- /ˈbiɾəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯ɾəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯ɾl̩]
- /ˈbiʔəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯ʔəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯ʔl̩]
Sounds like Beatle, beadle (t-flapping) · Rhymes with -iːtəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English betel, from Old English bȳtel, bīetel (“hammer”), from Proto-West Germanic *bautil (“hammer, mallet”), equivalent to beat + -le. Cognate with Low German Bötel (“mallet”).
noun beetles
- A type of mallet with a large wooden head, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc.
- A machine in which fabrics are subjected to a hammering process while passing over rollers, as in cotton mills; a beetling machine.
verb beetles · beetling · beetled
- To beat with a heavy mallet.
- To finish by subjecting to a hammering process in a beetle or beetling machine. to beetle cotton goods
beetle⁴
- /ˈbiːtəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯tʰəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯tʰl̩]
- /ˈbiɾəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯ɾəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯ɾl̩]
- /ˈbiʔəl/
- [ˈbɪi̯ʔəl] ~ [ˈbɪi̯ʔl̩]
Sounds like Beatle, beadle (t-flapping) · Rhymes with -iːtəl
Where it comes from
Borrowed from Portuguese bétele, from Malayalam വെറ്റില (veṟṟila) or Tamil வெற்றிலை (veṟṟilai).
noun beetles
- Obsolete spelling of betel Scatter black sand, and offer camphor, sandal, flowers, beetle-leaves, and all sorts of fragrance.
Beetle⁵
- /ˈbiː.təl/ Australia
- [ˈbɪi̯.ɾəl] Australia
Where it comes from
From beetle, as a calque of German Käfer.
noun Beetles · beetle
-
A small car, the Volkswagen Beetle (original version made 1938–2003, similar models made 1997–2010 and from 2011 to 2019).
Similar: Bug
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: overhang, protrusive, dor, chrysomelid, ladybird, cockroach, vedalia, scarab, bug, insect, hive, tree, infestation, pest, epidemic, mpb
Translations
Every language
noun insect
| Español | escarabajo, acatanca, catanga |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 갑충 gapchung |
| 日本語 | 甲虫 kōchū |
| 中文 | 甲蟲 /甲虫 jiǎchóng, 甲殼蟲 /甲壳虫 jiǎqiàochóng, jiǎkéchóng |
| हिन्दी | गुबरैला gubrailā, भृंग bhŕṅg |
| Kiswahili | mende |
| Português | escaravelho, besouro |
| Français | scarabée |
| Deutsch | Käfer |
| Italiano | coleottero, scarabeo |
| Ελληνικά | σκαθάρι skathári |
| Română | gândac |
| Русский | жук žuk, жесткокры́лый žestkokrýlyj |
| Tiếng Việt | bọ cánh cứng |
| العربية | خُنْفُسَاء ḵunfusāʔ |
| עברית | חִפּוּשִׁית, חיפושית khipushít |
noun mallet
| Français | mailloche |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Holzhammer |
noun Volkswagen car
| Español | escarabajo, Vocho, fusca |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 甲殼蟲 /甲壳虫 Jiǎqiàochóng |
| Português | fusca, carocha |
| Français | Coccinelle |
| Deutsch | Käfer |
| Italiano | maggiolino |
| Ελληνικά | Σκαραβαίος Skaravaíos, Σκαθάρι Skathári |
| Română | broscuță |
| Русский | Фольксваген Жук Folʹksvagen Žuk |
| עברית | חיפושית khipushít |
Talk about this word "beetle." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/beetle. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. beetle. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/beetle "beetle." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/beetle.Cite this
@misc{beetle_2026,
title = {beetle},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/beetle},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
