'Bacon beetle' definitions:
Definition of 'Bacon beetle'
From: GCIDE
- Bacon \Ba"con\, n. [OF. bacon, fr. OHG. bacho, bahho, flitch of bacon, ham; akin to E. back. Cf. Back the back side.] The back and sides of a pig salted and smoked; formerly, the flesh of a pig salted or fresh. [1913 Webster]
- Bacon beetle (Zool.), a beetle (Dermestes lardarius) which, especially in the larval state, feeds upon bacon, woolens, furs, etc. See Dermestes.
- To save one's bacon, to save one's self or property from harm or loss. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] Bacon
Definition of 'bacon beetle'
From: GCIDE
- Dermestes \Der*mes"tes\, n. [NL., from Gr. dermhsth`s; de`rma skin + root of ? to eat.] (Zool.) A genus of coleopterous insects, the larv[ae] of which feed animal substances. They are very destructive to dries meats, skins, woolens, and furs. The most common species is Dermestes lardarius, known as the bacon beetle. [1913 Webster]