[Definitions and senses are in historical order]
doodlebug noun [Americanism (U.S.), from doodle + bug]
- the larva of certain antlions; broadly: any of several other insects
- one who does not stand up for his convictions
- [colloquial senses]
- [sensing device or user of such device]
- an unscientific device (as a divining rod) for locating underground gas, water, oil, or ores
- one professing skill with such a contrivance
- a seismograph, gravimeter, or other scientific device for the location of minerals
- a small tractor used in lumbering or farming
- [railcar]
- a rail motorcar used by railroad employees in construction and maintenance-of-way work
- a small local train
- [certain military vehicles]
- a small military tank
- an army utility truck
- robot bomb
- a magnetic detecting device; specifically: an airborne magnetometer used for spotting submarines
- a midget racing automobile
- a very small airplane
- [sensing device or user of such device]
- doodle noun -s [perhaps from Low German dudeldopp]
a foolish or frivolous person - doodle verb, transitive -ed/-ing/-s
dialect :to make a fool of; cheat - doodle verb, transitive -ed/-ing/-s [German dudeln, to play (the bagpipe), from dudel, bagpipe, from Czech or Polish dudy, bagpipe, from Turkish duduk a flute; akin to Russian dudá fife, shawm, Lithuanian daudytè shawm]
[British dialect] : to play on (the bagpipe) - doodle noun -s [short for haydoodle, perhaps from hay + doodle (in cock-a-doodle-do), euphemism for -cock (associated with cock penis)]
[Dialect] : a small pile of hay in the field; haycock - doodle noun -s [by shortening]
doodlebug - doodle verb doodled; doodled; doodling; doodles [Americanism, perhaps from doodle (2) and (3)]
verb, intransitive 1: to make a doodle 2: to engage in aimless, haphazard, or inconsequential activity : dawdle, trifle, toy 3: [Colloquial] to play music in a casual, informal way
verb, transitive 1: to mark or overspread with doodles 2: to expend in doodling 3: to trace in the manner of a doodle - doodle noun -s [Americanism, from doodle (6)]
an aimless more or less automatic scribble, outline, design, or improvised sketch traced while one is mentally occupied with something else; doodler noun
- bug noun -s [Middle English bugge scarecrow; akin to German dialect bögge piece of dried nasal mucus, hobgoblin, Norwegian dialect bugge big or important man]
obsolete : bogey, bugbear; hobgoblin - bug noun -s [origin unknown but probably from previous]
- [animal]
- an insect or other creeping or crawling invertebrate (as a spider or small crustacean)not used technically
- any of certain insects commonly considered especially obnoxious, such as:
- bedbug
- cockroach
- head louse
- an insect of the order Hemiptera; especially: a member of the suborder Heteroptera
- an unexpected defect, fault, flaw, or imperfection
- [colloquial senses]
- a disease-producing germ or other microorganism
- a disease caused by such bugs; especially: any of various respiratory conditions of virus origins (as influenza or grippe)
- [American slang]
- fad, craze, hobby
- enthusiasm, concern, or deep interest esp. in respect to some particular matter or objective
- a person notably concerned with, enthusiastic about, or efficient at a specified interst or activity
- hobbyiest
- a crazy person; especially : firebug
- [person]
- [Archaic] a vain or self-important person
- a person of prominence or high social standing
- [poker] the joker when considered wild only for the purpose of filling straights or flushes or of acting as an ace
- [American slang]
- an alarm system (as a burglar alarm)
- a concealed microphone
- a device for wiretapping
- a high-speed telegrapher's key that makes repeated dots or dashes automatically and saves motion of the operator's hand
- [so called from its designation by an asterisk on race programs] the weight allowance (5 pounds, or 2.3 kg) given apprentice jockeys for one year after the riding of five winners
- [Slang] numbers game
- [American slang] a light usually two-seater stripped-down automobile
- a fishing plug thought to resemble a large insect
- [animal]