stag beetle

noun

any of numerous lamellicorn beetles of the family Lucanidae, some of the males of which have mandibles resembling the antlers of a stag.

Origin of stag beetle

First recorded in 1675–85

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

Examples from the Web for stag beetle

Historical Examples of stag beetle

This structure you will find in the stag-beetle, and some other timber-devourers.
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. III (of 4)
William Kirby
Blue as hyacinth was one of his eyes, dark as a stag-beetle's back was the other.
The Harvard Classics, Volume 49, Epic and Saga
Various
The mandibles of the Stag-beetle were formerly employed in medicine, under the name of Horns of Scarabi.
Curious Facts in the History of Insects; Including Spiders and Scorpions.
Frank Cowan
Professor Bradley, of Cambridge, mentions the following remarkable instance of insect strength in a Stag-beetle.
Curious Facts in the History of Insects; Including Spiders and Scorpions.
Frank Cowan
The common dor-beetle, the cockchafer, the stag-beetle, and others supply us with illustrations of this.
Proverb Lore
F. Edward Hulme

British Dictionary definitions for stag beetle

stag beetle

noun

any lamellicorn beetle of the family Lucanidae, the males of which have large branched mandibles

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