passalus

noun

pas·​sa·​lus

ˈpasələs

1

capitalized : the type genus of the family Passalidae

2

plural -es : any beetle of Passalus or a related genus

especially : a flat shiny black gregarious bess-bug (Popilius disjunctus) of the southern U.S.

called also horned passalus

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek passalos peg; akin to Greek pēssein to fix, fasten, pēgnynai to fix, fasten

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Rhymes for passalus

• gracilis