Also 7 tenebrion. [L. tenebrio one who lurks in the dark, f. tenebræ darkness; F. ténébrion (Rabelais, 16th c.).]
† 1. One who lurks in the dark; a night-prowler; also, a night-spirit, a nocturnal visitant. Obs. rare.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Tenebrion, one that will not be seen by day, a lurker, a night-thief; also a night-spirit, a hobgoblin.
a. 1693. Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. xxiv. The approach of the Suns radiant Beams expelleth Goblins, Bugbears,… Night-walking Spirits, and Tenebrions.
a. 1734. North, Exam., I. i. § 7 (1740). The very rankest of [the Hackney Libellers], which … came forth, like Nocturnal Tenebrios, from the dark and dirty Recesses of the Party.
2. Entom. The typical genus of the family Tenebrionidæ of heteromerous beetles, which live in dark places on decaying matter and excrement (hence known as stinking beetles). It includes the two meal-worms, Tenebrio molitor and T. obscurus, and numerous species that live in decayed trees.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., App., Tenebrio.…. Mouffet has called it the blatta fœtida.
1811. Pinkerton, Voy., X. 190. The women of Arabia and Turkey make use of another tenebrio, which is found among the filth of gardens.
1833. A. Crichton, Hist. Arabia, II. ix. 462.
