DOODLEBUG


Meaning of DOODLEBUG in English

I. ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun

Etymology: probably from doodle (I) + bug

1. : the larva of an ant lion ; broadly : any of several other insects

2. : one who does not stand up for his convictions

3.

a.

(1) : an unscientific device (as a divining rod) for locating underground gas, water, oil, or ores

(2) also doo·dle·bug·ger “+ə(r) : one professing skill with such a contrivance

(3) : a seismograph, gravimeter, or other scientific device for the location of minerals

b. : a small tractor used in lumbering or farming

c.

(1) : a rail motorcar used by railroad employees in construction and maintenance-of-way work

(2) : a small local train

d.

(1) : a small military tank

(2) : an army utility truck

e. : robot bomb

f. : a magnetic detecting device ; specifically : an airborne magnetometer used for spotting submarines

g. : a midget racing automobile

h. : a very small airplane

II. intransitive verb

: to use a doodlebug in a search

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.