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beetle

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Beetle \Bee"tle\ (b[=e]"t'l), n. [OE. betel, AS. b[=i]tl, b?tl,
   mallet, hammer, fr. be['a]tan to beat. See {Beat}, v. t.]
   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}. --Knight.

Beetle \Bee"tle\ (b[=e]"t'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Beetled}
   (-t'ld); 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 \Bee"tle\, n. [OE. bityl, bittle, AS. b[imac]tel, fr.
   b[imac]tan to bite. See {Bite}, v. t.]
   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}.

   {Beetle mite} (Zo["o]l.), one of many species of mites, of
      the family {Oribatid[ae]}, parasitic on beetles.

   {Black beetle}, the common large black cockroach ({Blatta
      orientalis}).

Beetle \Bee"tle\, v. i. [See {Beetlebrowed}.]
   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.                   --Shak.

         Each beetling rampart, and each tower sublime.
                                                  --Wordsworth.

Source : WordNet®

beetle
     adj : jutting or overhanging; "beetle brows" [syn: {beetling}]

beetle
     n 1: insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to
          form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings
     2: a tool resembling a hammer but with a large head (usually
        wooden); used to drive wedges or ram down paving stones or
        for crushing or beating or flattening or smoothing [syn: {mallet}]

beetle
     v 1: be suspended over or hang over; "This huge rock beetles over
          the edge of the town" [syn: {overhang}]
     2: fly or go in a manner resembling a beetle; "He beetled up
        the staircase"; "They beetled off home"
     3: beat with a beetle
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