ENGLISH
REFERENCE

beetle

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈbitəɫ// UK //bˈiːtəl// bee·tle
  1. 1 the insect (n.)
    A2 Elementary Science

    an insect with a hard, shell-like back that protects its wings.

    any of numerous insects of the order Coleoptera, characterized by hardened forewings that form a protective case.

    Example

    A shiny black beetle crawled across the garden path and disappeared under a leaf.

    Example

    The researcher identified several rare species of beetle living within the decaying logs of the ancient woodland.
  2. 2 the car (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a small, rounded car originally made by Volkswagen.

    a popular compact car model produced by Volkswagen, noted for its distinctive rounded shape.

    Example

    My grandfather still drives an old blue Beetle that he bought in the seventies.

    Example

    The classic Volkswagen Beetle remains a cultural icon and a favourite among vintage car collectors worldwide.

  3. 3 to scurry (v.)
    C1 Advanced British English Informal

    to move quickly or hurry away, like a small insect.

    to move in a hurried or scurrying manner; often used with 'off' or 'away'.

    Example

    As soon as the meeting ended, he beetled off to catch his train.

    Example

    The clerk beetled away to the archives to retrieve the requested documents before the office closed for the day.
  4. 4 protruding (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary

    sticking out or hanging over something else.

    projecting or overhanging, most commonly used to describe eyebrows or cliffs.

    Example

    The old man looked at me from under his thick, beetle brows.

    Example

    The hikers sought shelter beneath a beetle crag as the storm clouds began to gather over the valley.
  5. 5 a heavy mallet (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Archaic

    a heavy wooden hammer used for hitting things hard.

    a heavy wooden mallet used for driving wedges or beating fabric in industrial processes.

    Example

    The worker used a heavy beetle to drive the wooden stakes into the ground.

    Example

    In traditional textile mills, a mechanical beetle was employed to hammer the cloth and give it a smooth finish.
Etymology 1

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”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English bitel-brouwed (“beetle-browed”). Possibly after beetle, from the fact that some beetles have bushy antennae.

Etymology 3

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”).

Etymology 4

Borrowed from Portuguese bétele, from Malayalam വെറ്റില (veṟṟila) or Tamil வெற்றிலை (veṟṟilai).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Last updated June 20, 2026