doodlebug

¹ American  

[dood-l-buhg] / ˈdud lˌbʌg /

noun

1. the larva of an antlion.

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doodlebug ² American  

[dood-l-buhg] / ˈdud lˌbʌg /

noun

1. any of various small, squat vehicles.

2. a divining rod or similar device supposedly useful in locating underground water, oil, minerals, etc.

3. British Informal. buzz bomb.

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doodlebug British  

/ ˈduːdəlˌbʌɡ /

noun

1. another name for the V-1

2. a diviner's rod

3. a US name for antlion

4. any of certain insect larvae that resemble the antlion

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Etymology

Origin of doodlebug¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; doodle ¹ + bug ¹

Origin of doodlebug²

First recorded in 1865–70; special use of doodlebug ¹

Example Sentences

While stationed in Liverpool as a Royal Air Force physical training instructor, a doodlebug landed near Max, perforating his eardrums and leading to a spell laid up in hospital.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2019

Football carried on during that war and the club would have games stopped when a doodlebug went across.

From The Guardian • May 13, 2017

It seemed heavy with the weight of its own folklore: chover, billywitch, bummler, doodlebug, mitchamador, midsomerdor, may-bug, June-bug.

From The Guardian • Jun. 5, 2012

Later Johnny Ritter, smallest but reputedly most "heavy-footed" of doodlebug racers, did the same thing.

From Time Magazine Archive

That old doodlebug only thinks of the silly specimens that he is going to collect down here.

From The White Waterfall by Dwyer, James Francis