Beetle

Definitions

1. 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.
2. A type of mallet with a large wooden head, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc.
3. Archaic spelling of betel.
   alt-of, archaic
4. A small car, the Volkswagen Beetle (original version made 1938–2003, similar models made 1997–2010 and since 2011).
   Australia, New-Zealand, UK
5. 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.
   uncountable
6. A machine in which fabrics are subjected to a hammering process while passing over rollers, as in cotton mills; a beetling machine.
7. Alternative letter-case form of Beetle (“car”).
   alt-of

Equivalents

Examples

“Guessing competitions were tackled with much enthusiasm, followed by a beetle drive⟳, and judging by the laughter, this was popular with all.”

“For quotations using this term, see⟳ Citations:beetle.”

“Scatter⟳ black sand, and offer⟳ camphor, sandal, flowers, beetle-leaves, and all sorts of fragrance.”

“Beetle-leaf is absolutely a primary necessary article of life; every person consumes it daily, especially when travelling; the hindoo of caste has great difficulties in the way of cooking food, which are augmented whenever from home, and the beetle alleviates his hunger.”

“"It consists of the beetle leaf, in which the piece of an areca-nut is mixed with some lime out of the oyster and muscle shells, and so put⟳ into the mouth and chewed. Out of the beetle leaves, during the preparation, the fibres that are hard and rough are first drawn to the leaf; the form⟳ of a little horn is then given, open⟳ at the bottom, and pointed at the top, which when the areca-nut is inserted is closed, and so chewed."”

CEFR level