Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *bitilô, *bītilaz Proto-West Germanic *bitilō, *bītil Old English bitula, bitela, bītel Middle English bitle, bitel, bityl, bytylle English beetle From Middle English bitle, bityl, bytylle, from Old English bitula, bitela, bītel (“beetle”), from Proto-West Germanic *bitilō, *bītil, from Proto-Germanic *bitilô, *bītilaz (“that which tends to bite, biter, beetle”), equivalent to bite + -le. Cognate with Old High German bicco (“beetle”), Danish bille (“beetle”), Icelandic bitil, bitul (“a bite, bit”), Faroese bitil (“small piece, bittock”).
1
To move (away) quickly, to scurry away.
He beetled off on his vacation.
I beetled across to our table, but no Pauline, no Mr Cresswell, no Mr Rudyard.1982, A Woman of No Importance (TV programme)
3 more examples
“[…] But he seems to have beetled off somewhere as usual. […]”1983, Dorothy L. Sayers, Gaudy Night, Mountaineers Books, →ISBN, page 144:
In the falling darkness Harry saw small collections of lights as they passed over more villages, then a winding road on which a single car was beetling its way home through the hills. …2003, J. K. Rowling, “The Department of Mysteries”, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, →ISBN, page 766:
Her eyes still closed, his aunt smiled cruelly. “I know what you are dying to say, Bertie. Go ahead—take the cheap shot. I’ll squash you like the nasty little bug you are.” ¶ Thus chastened, the little man beetled away.2005, James Doss, The Witch's Tongue, →ISBN, page 178:
Etymology tree Middle English bitel? Proto-Indo-European *h₃bʰrúHsder. Proto-Germanic *brūwō Proto-West Germanic *brūu Old English brū Middle English brouwe Old English -ed Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Germanic *-ōdaz Old English -od Middle English -ed Middle English brouwed Middle English bitel-brouwed English beetle From Middle English bitel-brouwed (“beetle-browed”). Possibly after beetle, from the fact that some beetles have bushy antennae.
1
Protruding, jutting, overhanging.
beetle brows
Beetle
noun
AU /ˈbiː.təl/
Etymology From beetle, as a calque of German Käfer.
1
Australia, New Zealand, UK A small car, the Volkswagen Beetle (original version made 1938–2003, similar models made 1997–2010 and since 2011).
beetle
noun
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *bitilô, *bītilaz Proto-West Germanic *bitilō, *bītil Old English bitula, bitela, bītel Middle English bitle, bitel, bityl, bytylle English beetle From Middle English bitle, bityl, bytylle, from Old English bitula, bitela, bītel (“beetle”), from Proto-West Germanic *bitilō, *bītil, from Proto-Germanic *bitilô, *bītilaz (“that which tends to bite, biter, beetle”), equivalent to bite + -le. Cognate with Old High German bicco (“beetle”), Danish bille (“beetle”), Icelandic bitil, bitul (“a bite, bit”), Faroese bitil (“small piece, bittock”).
1
Any of numerous species of insect in the order Coleoptera characterized by a pair of hard, shell-like front wings which cover and protect a pair of rear wings when at rest.
2
A game of chance in which players attempt to complete a drawing of a beetle, different dice rolls allowing them to add the various body parts.
Guessing competitions were tackled with much enthusiasm, followed by a beetle drive, and judging by the laughter, this was popular with all.1944, Queen's Nurses' Magazine, volumes 33-35, page 12:
3
Alternative letter-case form of Beetle (“car”).
For quotations using this term, see Citations:beetle.
Etymology tree Middle English bitel? Proto-Indo-European *h₃bʰrúHsder. Proto-Germanic *brūwō Proto-West Germanic *brūu Old English brū Middle English brouwe Old English -ed Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Germanic *-ōdaz Old English -od Middle English -ed Middle English brouwed Middle English bitel-brouwed English beetle From Middle English bitel-brouwed (“beetle-browed”). Possibly after beetle, from the fact that some beetles have bushy antennae.
1
Ambitransitive To loom over; to extend or jut (above).
The heavy chimney beetled over the thatched roof.
To the dreadful summit of the cliff / That beetles o'er his base into the sea.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
4 more examples
Each beetling rampart, and each tower sublime.1822, William Wordsworth, In a Carriage, upon the Banks of the Rhin:
I was indeed gently affected, and shared his fears, remembering well the bulging walls of the old house, and the toppling mass of heavy chimney work which beetled over the roof, beneath which these poor doves had made their nest.1858 January-March, Dean of Pimlico, “A Story for the New Year”, in Dublin University Magazine reprinted in Littell's Living Age, volume 56 (volume 20 of the second series), Littell, Son & Company, page 63:
He stood a barehead boy upon a cliff / Pine-crowned, that hung high beetling a bleak north sea, / His long bright hair did stream like yellow silk, […]1871, The Spectator, volume 44, page 519:
Impelled by some obscure quest, I ascended a rift or cleft in this beetling precipice, noting as I did so the black mouths of many fearsome burrows extending from both walls into the depths of the stony plateau.1941, Chapman Miske, The Thing in the Moonlight:
beetle
noun
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰew-der.? Proto-Germanic *bautaną Proto-Indo-European *-lósder.? Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-tromder.? Proto-Germanic *-ilaz Proto-Germanic *bautilaz Proto-West Germanic *bautil Old English bīetelder. Old English bȳtel Middle English betel English beetle From Middle English betel, from Old English bȳtel, bīetel (“hammer”), from Proto-West Germanic *bautil (“hammer, mallet”), equivalent to beat + -le. Cognate with Low German Bötel (“mallet”).
1
A type of mallet with a large wooden head, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc.
2
A machine in which fabrics are subjected to a hammering process while passing over rollers, as in cotton mills; a beetling machine.
beetle
verb
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰew-der.? Proto-Germanic *bautaną Proto-Indo-European *-lósder.? Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-tromder.? Proto-Germanic *-ilaz Proto-Germanic *bautilaz Proto-West Germanic *bautil Old English bīetelder. Old English bȳtel Middle English betel English beetle From Middle English betel, from Old English bȳtel, bīetel (“hammer”), from Proto-West Germanic *bautil (“hammer, mallet”), equivalent to beat + -le. Cognate with Low German Bötel (“mallet”).
1
To beat with a heavy mallet.
2
To finish by subjecting to a hammering process in a beetle or beetling machine.