scarab

From Middle French scarabée, from Latin scarabaeus (“beetle”). Doublet of scarabaeus, now obsolete.

• IPA^(key): /ˈskæɹəb/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /ˈskɛɹəb/
• Rhymes: -æɹəb, -ɛɹəb

scarab (plural scarabs)

1. A beetle of the species Scarabaeus sacer, sacred to the ancient Egyptians.
2. Any species of beetle belonging to the family Scarabaeidae.
3. A symbol, seal, amulet, or gem fashioned to resemble the sacred beetle.
   • 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:

     The scarab, which is a very small one, Leo had insisted upon having set in a massive gold ring, such as is generally used for signets, and it was this very ring that I now picked up.

• cockchafer, dung beetle, June bug, scarabaeus (obsolete), scarab beetle

• scarab beetle
• scarabaeid
• scarabaeoid

• → Irish: scarab
• → Welsh: sgarab

• Barsac