n. [ OE. betel, AS. bītl, b&unr_;tl, mallet, hammer, fr. beátan to beat. See Beat, v. t. ]
v. t.
n. [ OE. bityl, bittle, AS. bītel, fr. bītan to bite. See Bite, v. t. ] Any insect of the order Coleoptera, having four wings, the outer pair being stiff cases for covering the others when they are folded up. See Coleoptera. [ 1913 Webster ]
Beetle mite (Zool.),
Black beetle,
v. i. [ See Beetlebrowed. ] To extend over and beyond the base or support; to overhang; to jut. [ 1913 Webster ]
To the dreadful summit of the cliff
That beetles o'er his base into the sea. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Each beetling rampart, and each tower sublime. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]
An overhanging brow. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ OE. bitelbrowed; cf. OE. bitel, adj., sharp, projecting, n., a beetle. See Beetle an insect. ] Having prominent, overhanging brows; hence, lowering or sullen. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ The earlier meaning was, “Having bushy or overhanging eyebrows.” [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Beetle a mallet + head. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Dull; stupid. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The handle of a beetle. [ 1913 Webster ]