BEETLE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English betylle, from Old English bitula; akin to bītan to bite Date: before 12th century any of an order (Coleoptera) of insects having four wings of which the outer pair are modified into stiff elytra that protect the inner pair when at rest, any of various insects resembling a ~, II. intransitive verb (~d; beetling) Date: circa 1919 to scurry like a ~ , III. noun Etymology: Middle English betel, from Old English bīetel; akin to Old English bēatan to beat Date: before 12th century a heavy wooden hammering or ramming instrument, a wooden pestle or bat for domestic tasks, IV. adjective Etymology: Middle English bitel-browed having overhanging brows, probably from betylle, bitel ~ Date: 14th century being prominent and overhanging , V. intransitive verb (~d; beetling) Date: 1602 project , jut