doodlebug

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doo·dle·bug

(do͞od′l-bŭg′)

1. Chiefly Southern US

a. An antlion larva.

b. See pillbug.

c. A divining rod.

2. Chiefly British See V-1.

[Perhaps dialectal doodle, fool, simpleton (akin to Low German dudeldopp) + bug.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

doodlebug

(ˈduːdəlˌbʌɡ)

1. (Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery) another name for the V-1

2. (Mining & Quarrying) a diviner's rod

3. (Animals) a US name for antlion²

4. (Animals) US any of certain insect larvae that resemble the antlion

[C20: probably from doodle + bug¹]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

doo•dle•bug

(ˈdud lˌbʌg)

n.

1. See under ant lion.

2. a divining rod.

3. Brit. buzz bomb.

[1865–70, Amer.; compare doodle]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	doodlebug - a small motor vehicle automotive vehicle, motor vehicle - a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not run on rails
	2.	doodlebug - a small jet-propelled winged missile that carries a bomb buzz bomb, flying bomb, robot bomb, V-1 guided missile - a rocket-propelled missile whose path can be controlled during flight either by radio signals or by internal homing devices
	3.	doodlebug - the larva of any of several insects ant lion, antlion genus Myrmeleon, Myrmeleon - type genus of the Myrmeleontidae: antlions larva - the immature free-living form of most invertebrates and amphibians and fish which at hatching from the egg is fundamentally unlike its parent and must metamorphose

Translations

doodlebug

[ˈduːdlbʌg] N (Brit) → bomba f volante

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

doodlebug

(Brit: = bomb) → V1-Rakete f

(US: = larva) → Ameisenlarve f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

References in periodicals archive ?

1944: The first V1 flying bomb, or "doodlebug", landed in England.

On this day..

The Boxers were a secret society, 1944: The first V1 flying bomb, or "doodlebug", landed in England.

On this day

A doodlebug JUNE 13 1944: The first V1 flying bomb, or "doodlebug", landed in England.

LOOKING BACK June 8/14

It is likely that many of their memories will revolve around when the borough was heavily bombed during The Blitz, and was hit very hard by Hitler's 'Doodlebug' V1 rockets.

Fascinating map shows where every bomb was dropped on Croydon during The Blitz; It can be chilling but fascinating to find out how close bombs were to your home

Which unguided flying bomb used by the Germans against Britain in World War II was also called a buzz bomb or doodlebug? A V-2 B ME109 C V-1 D FW55 4.

General Knowledge Quiz

Which insect is also known as a Slater or Doodlebug? 3.

QUICK

RAF hero Joseph Berry was a pilot with an unusual skill - he was an expert at shooting down Hitler's feared VI "Doodlebug" flying bombs.

'CARRY ON CHAPS, I'VE HAD IT' Last words of brave WW2 pilot who held the record for shooting down deadly V1 German flying bombs

Pets clockwise from lower right include Frankie Duman Dandy, who at age 16 sadly left Doodlebug, 11, Maryland.

Pets: Sweet Goodbyes

Medals and an archive of documents and pictures which tell of the exploits of an ace doodlebug destroyer have sold at North East auction for more than double their estimate.

'Life in a suitcase' of WW2 flying ace sells at auction for double its estimate; The heirlooms of doodlebug destroyer Squadron leader Joseph Berry sold for [pounds sterling]17,500 at the Anderson & Garland sale in Newcastle

The V-1 was a buzz bomb (or flying bomb or doodlebug), the V-2 a rocket; what was the V-3?

At ease: so you think you know your military history? Well, think again!

It was also known as a "doodlebug." V-1s flew at fairly low altitudes--around 4,000 feet--at a speed of about 400 mph and could be seen and shot down by anti-aircraft artillery and fighter aircraft.