Rhinoceros Beetle
/raɪˈnɑːsərəs ˈbiːtəl/noun
A large beetle, usually a scarab, whose males often possess a prominent horn-like projection.
Did you know?Rhinoceros beetles belong to the scarab family, whose ancient Egyptian relatives were associated with Khepri, the solar deity of rebirth and transformation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ker-
“Horn, head, or the hard projecting point of an animal”
Ancient Greek
Greek
keras
“Horn”
Ancient Greek
Greek
rhinókerōs
“Nose-horned; rhinoceros”
Classical Latin
Latin
rhinoceros
“Rhinoceros, literally a nose-horned animal”
Old English
Old English
bitela
“Biter; a beetle, from the act of biting”
18th Century
English
rhinoceros beetle
“A beetle named for its horn-like projection, resembling a rhinoceros horn”
Modern English
English
rhinoceros beetle
“A horned scarab beetle, especially a male with a large thoracic or head horn”
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