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Definition of 'deathwatch beetle'

deathwatch beetle in British

a beetle, Xestobium rufovillosum, whose woodboring larvae are a serious pest. The adult produces a rapid tapping sound with its head that was once popularly supposed to presage death
See also anobiid
deathwatch
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

deathwatch beetle in British

(ˈdɛθˌwɒtʃ ˈbiːtəl)
noun
a beetle, Xestobium rufovillosum, whose woodboring larvae are a serious pest The adult produces a rapid tapping sound with its head that was once popularly supposed to presage death
See also anobiid
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Example sentences containing 'deathwatch beetle'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
`Sinking oh so beautifully under the weight of debts and tax and deathwatch beetle and dangerous wiring and inadequate heating. Melville, Anne THE HARDIE INHERITANCE

Word Lists

beetle

Nearby words of 'deathwatch beetle'

  • deathtrap
  • deathward
  • deathwatch
  • deathwatch beetle
  • deattribute
  • Deauville
  • deave

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'D'

Source

Definition of deathwatch beetle from the Collins English Dictionary

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