billbug

noun

bill·​bug ˈbil-ˌbəg How to pronounce billbug (audio)
: any of various weevils (as of the genus Sphenophorus) having larvae that eat the roots of cereal and other grasses

Examples of billbug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Check for mealybugs, billbugs and nematodes in zoysia lawns and treat as needed. Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 30 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

bill entry 1 + bug

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of billbug was in 1831

Dictionary Entries Near billbug

Cite this Entry

“Billbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billbug. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on billbug

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!