The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Meloe \Mel"o*e\, [ NL., fr. Gr. ? to probe a wound.] (Zool.)
   A genus of beetles without wings, but having short oval
   elytra; the oil beetles. These beetles are sometimes used
   instead of cantharides for raising blisters. See Oil
   beetle, under Oil.
   [1913 Webster]