n. [ OE. betel, AS. bītl, b&unr_;tl, mallet, hammer, fr. beátan to beat. See Beat, v. t. ] 1. A heavy mallet, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A machine in which fabrics are subjected to a hammering process while passing over rollers, as in cotton mills; -- called also beetling machine. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Beetled p. pr. & vb. n. Beetling. ] 1. To beat with a heavy mallet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To finish by subjecting to a hammering process in a beetle or beetling machine; as, to beetle cotton goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

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.), one of many species of mites, of the family Oribatidæ, parasitic on beetles. --
Black beetle, the common large black cockroach (Blatta orientalis). [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

1. A stupid fellow; a blockhead. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The black-bellied plover, or bullhead (Squatarola helvetica). See Plover. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Dull; stupid. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The handle of a beetle. [ 1913 Webster ]