Meanings
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1
noun
a plant-eating beetle, typically with a long snout, many species of which damage stored grain or crops
A grain weevil had infested the peas stored in the cellar.
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2
noun
any of several similar beetles that infest food products or plants
The biscuit weevil can survive inside packages of dry food.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
1
noun
· a plant-eating beetle,...
snout beetle
2
noun
· any of several similar...
pest beetle
Word family
Forms
weevil-beetlesweevils
Etymology
From Middle English wevel and Old English wifel, 'beetle,' from a Germanic word also reflected in German Wiebel. The deeper root may be related to wave or weave, perhaps referring to movement or to the woven-looking case of a larva.