Cockroach

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cockroach \Cock"roach\, n. [Sp. cucaracha.] (Zool.)
     An orthopterous insect of the genus {Blatta}, and allied
     genera.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The species are numerous, especially in hot countries.


           Those most commonly infesting houses in Europe and
           North America are {Blatta orientalis}, a large species
           often called {black beetle}, and the {Croton bug}
           ({Blatta Germanica}, formerly {Ectobia Germanica}),
           also called the {German cockroach}.
           [1913 Webster +PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cockroach
       n : any of numerous chiefly nocturnal insects; some are domestic
           pests [syn: {roach}]