/skar"euhb/ , n.
1. any scarabaeid beetle, esp. Scarabaeus sacer, regarded as sacred by the ancient Egyptians.
2. a representation or image of a beetle, much used among the ancient Egyptians as a symbol, seal, amulet, or the like.
3. a gem cut to resemble a beetle.
Also, scarabaeus (for defs. 2, 3).
[ 1570-80; short for SCARABAEUS ]