n.
Pronunciation: ' b ē -t ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English betylle, from Old English bitula; akin to b ī tan to bite
Date: before 12th century
1 : 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
2 : any of various insects resembling a beetle