bombardier beetle

bombardier beetle
any ground beetle of the genus Brachinus, which ejects a puff of volatile fluid from its abdomen with a popping sound when disturbed.
[1795-1805]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Bombardier beetle — Bombardier Beetles are ground beetles (Carabidae) in the tribes Brachinini, Paussini, Ozaenini, or Metriini more than 500 species altogether that are most notable for the defense mechanism that gives them their name: They can fire a mixture of… …   Wikipedia

  • Bombardier beetle — Bombardier Bom bar*dier , n. [F. bombardier.] (Mil.) (a) One who used or managed a bombard; an artilleryman; a gunner. [Archaic] (b) A noncommissioned officer in the British artillery. [1913 Webster] {Bombardier beetle} (Zo[ o]l.), a kind of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bombardier beetle — n. any of various ground beetles (esp. genus Brachinus) that protect themselves by discharging an irritating fluid that vaporizes with a popping sound on contact with the air …   English World dictionary

  • bombardier beetle — bombardier′ bee tle n. ent any ground beetle of the genus Brachinus, which ejects a puff of volatile fluid from its abdomen with a popping sound when disturbed • Etymology: 1795–1805 …   From formal English to slang

  • bombardier beetle — noun beetle that ejects audibly a pungent vapor when disturbed • Hypernyms: ↑ground beetle, ↑carabid beetle • Member Holonyms: ↑Brachinus, ↑genus Brachinus …   Useful english dictionary

  • bombardier beetle — noun A beetle whose defence mechanism enables it to eject a hot aqueous mixture of chemicals at predators. They come from a number of subfamilies: Carabinae (e.g., Brachinus crepitans), Metriinae (e.g., Stenaptinus insignis) and Paussinae (e.g.,… …   Wiktionary

  • bombardier beetle — noun a beetle that discharges a puff of irritant vapour with an audible pop when alarmed. [Brachinus crepitans and other species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • bombardier beetle — /bɒmbəˈdɪə bitl/ (say bombuh dear beetl) noun an Australian ground beetle, Pherosophus verticalis, which when disturbed emits a cloud of vapour making an explosive sound …  

  • Bombardier — Bom bar*dier , n. [F. bombardier.] (Mil.) (a) One who used or managed a bombard; an artilleryman; a gunner. [Archaic] (b) A noncommissioned officer in the British artillery. [1913 Webster] {Bombardier beetle} (Zo[ o]l.), a kind of beetle… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bombardier (disambiguation) — Bombardier is a large Canadian company mainly concerned with air and railway technology.Bombardier may refer to:* Bombardier (rank), rank equivalent to corporal used in some artillery corps * Bombardier (air force), crew member on a bomber… …   Wikipedia

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