doodlebug

[dood-l-buhg]

See more synonyms for doodlebug on Thesaurus.com

noun

the larva of an antlion.

Origin of doodlebug

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; doodle¹ + bug¹

doodlebug

[dood-l-buhg]

noun

any of various small, squat vehicles.
a divining rod or similar device supposedly useful in locating underground water, oil, minerals, etc.
British Informal. buzz bomb.

Origin of doodlebug

First recorded in 1865–70; special use of doodlebug¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for doodlebug

wand, doodlebug, dowser

Examples from the Web for doodlebug

Contemporary Examples of doodlebug

One of the things that came to mind when I saw Interstellar was your first film, Doodlebug.
Christopher Nolan Uncut: On ‘Interstellar,’ Ben Affleck’s Batman, and the Future of Mankind
Marlow Stern
November 10, 2014
The German name for the missile was Fi-103 but across the Channel it was called the Doodlebug.
Life Under Air Strikes: Children Under Fire Will Never Forget — or Forgive
Clive Irving
August 3, 2014

British Dictionary definitions for doodlebug

doodlebug

noun

another name for the V-1
a diviner's rod
a US name for antlion (def. 2)
US any of certain insect larvae that resemble the antlion

Word Origin for doodlebug

C20: probably from doodle + bug 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012