The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Beetle \Bee"tle\ (b[=e]"t'l), n. [OE. betel, AS. b[imac]tl,
   b?tl, mallet, hammer, fr. be['a]tan to beat. See Beat, v.
   t.]
   1. A heavy mallet, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A machine in which fabrics are subjected to a hammering
      process while passing over rollers, as in cotton mills; --
      called also beetling machine. --Knight.
      [1913 Webster]