carpet beetle (karpetbe"tl)

A popular name of Anthrenus scrophularia, a beetle of the Carpet-beetle (Anthrenus scrophularia). a, beetle; b, larva. (Vertical lines show natural sizes.) family Dermestid a: so called from its destructivene to carpets and other woolen fabrics. It was brought into the United States from Europe at a recent period. The beetle is about 3 millimeters in length, short-oval in form, moderately convex, and black; the under side is densely covered with white scales, while the upper side is beautifully variegated with patches of red and white scales. The larva is more elongate, dirty-white in color, and easily recognized from the tufts of rather long, stiff hair on the sides, and especially at the end of the body. The edges of carpets lying in dark places are especially liable to be damaged by these larvæ. Also known as buffalo - bug. See Anthrenus. carpet-broom, carpet-brush (kär'pet-bröm, -brush), n. A broom or brush for sweeping or cleaning carpets. carpet-dance (kär'pet-dans), n. A dance or a dancing-party of an easy and unceremonious character, the carpet not being lifted for the occasion, as for a ball. Dickens . carpet-friend (kär pet-frend), n. One whose friendship has no strength or sincerity. Max . Shall I forsake you in my doubts? Aecius . You must. Max . I must not, nor I will not. Have I liv'd Only to be a carpet- friend , for pleasure? Beau , and Fl ., Val ent in i an, iv. 2. carpeting (kär'pet-ing), n. [ carpet consideration." IMG:content-3176.png:[blocks in formation] tool for stretching a carpet and holding it firm ly while being tacked to the floor. carpet-sweeper (kär'pet-swē"pėr), n. A mechanical sweeper or broom for cleaning carpets and collecting the dust in a closed pan. It is sometimes operated by means of a crank on the handle, but commonly a cylindrical brush is moved by the roller-wheels that support the apparatus on the floor, the pushing forward of the machine by the handle serving to keep it in operation.