scarab
Pronunciation: /ˈskarəb/
noun
- (also sacred scarab) a large dung beetle of the eastern Mediterranean area, regarded as sacred in ancient Egypt.
- Scarabaeus sacer, family Scarabaeidae (the scarab family). The scarab family also includes the smaller dung beetles and chafers, together with some very large tropical kinds such as Hercules, goliath, and rhinoceros beetles
- an ancient Egyptian gem cut in the form of a scarab beetle, sometimes depicted with the wings spread, and engraved with hieroglyphs on the flat underside.
- any scarabaeid beetle.
Origin:
late 16th century (originally denoting a beetle of any kind): from Latin scarabaeus, from Greek skarabeios