Meaning
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.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
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”).
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 14 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-07-10EBFLOTU
- 2026-07-04BAEHILT
- 2026-03-30TBELNOV
- 2025-11-23LBTOMNE
- 2025-10-12BACEILT
- 2025-03-03BATGELV
- 2024-09-19EBTIGLY
- 2024-08-23BAPLEOT
- 2024-04-25EBTIHLY
- 2024-03-06LBENOTV
- 2023-11-12LBEIMNT
- 2023-10-11ETBOLCI
+2 earlier appearances in the archive.