Beetle /(bē"t'l)/

Bee·tle

Beetle

n.
  1. A heavy mallet, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc.
  2. A machine in which fabrics are subjected to a hammering process while passing over rollers, as in cotton mills; -- called also beetling machine.

Beetle

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Beetled; p. pr. & vb. n. Beetling

  1. To beat with a heavy mallet.
  2. To finish by subjecting to a hammering process in a beetle or beetling machine; as, to beetle cotton goods.

Beetle

n.
  1. Any insect of the order Coleoptera, having four wings, the outer pair being stiff cases for covering the others when they are folded up. See Coleoptera.

Phrases & Compounds
Beetle mite
one of many species of mites, of the family Oribatidæ, parasitic on beetles.
Black beetle
the common large black cockroach (Blatta orientalis).

Beetle

v. i.
  1. To extend over and beyond the base or support; to overhang; to jut.
    To the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o'er his base into the sea.
    Each beetling rampart, and each tower sublime.