Definition of cockchafer
: a large European beetle (Melolontha melolontha) destructive to vegetation as an adult and to roots as a larva
also
: any of various related beetles
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Who Knew?
-
- What is a ruelle?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share cockchafer
Time Traveler for cockchafer
The first known use of cockchafer was in 1712
See more words from the same year