: any of a superfamily (Curculionoidea) of beetles which have the head prolonged into a more or less distinct snout and which include many that are destructive especially as larvae to nuts, fruit, and grain or to living plants
especially: any of a family (Curculionidae) having a well-developed snout curved downward with the jaws at the tip and clubbed usually elbowed antennae
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The South American palm weevil came north across the border in 2011 and headed straight for its preferred victim, the glamorous Canary Island palm.—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025 Evans says the discovery of grain stores has allowed scientists to understand that ancient Egyptians were bothered by grain pests such as weevils.—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025 Most nuts also have nationwide transportation restrictions into California because husks and hulls can carry various invasive flies and weevils.—Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 8 Feb. 2025 The weevil is native to parts of Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean.—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for weevil
Word History
Etymology
Middle English wevel, from Old English wifel; akin to Old High German wibil beetle, Old English wefan to weave
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of weevil was
before the 12th century
: any of a family of mostly small beetles that have the head long and usually curved downward to form a snout bearing the jaws at the tip and that include many that feed on and are very harmful to plants or plant products (as nuts, fruit, and grain) especially as larvae
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