beetle
UK: ˈbiːt(ə)l | US: ˈbiːt(ə)l
n. a type of insect with hard wing cases
n. a heavy tool for crushing or pounding (e.g., a paving beetle)
vt. to move quickly or scurry (colloquial, e.g., "beetle off")
The word "beetle" traces back to Old English bitela, derived from bītan ("to bite"), referencing the insect's strong mandibles. The suffix -le often implies smallness or repetition, suggesting a "little biter." Over time, the term expanded to describe tools (like a hammer) due to their pounding action, akin to a beetle's movement. The verb form ("to scurry") emerged later, mimicking the insect's quick, erratic motion.
A shiny green beetle crawled across the leaf.
He used a wooden beetle to flatten the dough.
The children beetled down the hallway when the bell rang.
Some beetles can lift objects 50 times their weight.
She startled a beetle, which promptly beetled under a rock.