Beak

Beak
Beak Beak (b[=e]k), n. [OE. bek, F. bec, fr. Celtic; cf. Gael. & Ir. bac, bacc, hook, W. bach.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The bill or nib of a bird, consisting of a horny sheath, covering the jaws. The form varies much according to the food and habits of the bird, and is largely used in the classification of birds. (b) A similar bill in other animals, as the turtles. (c) The long projecting sucking mouth of some insects, and other invertebrates, as in the Hemiptera. (d) The upper or projecting part of the shell, near the hinge of a bivalve. (e) The prolongation of certain univalve shells containing the canal. [1913 Webster]

2. Anything projecting or ending in a point, like a beak, as a promontory of land. --Carew. [1913 Webster]

3. (Antiq.) A beam, shod or armed at the end with a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, in order to pierce the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead. [1913 Webster]

4. (Naut.) That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee. [1913 Webster]

5. (Arch.) A continuous slight projection ending in an arris or narrow fillet; that part of a drip from which the water is thrown off. [1913 Webster]

6. (Bot.) Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit or other parts of a plant. [1913 Webster]

7. (Far.) A toe clip. See {Clip}, n. (Far.). [1913 Webster]

8. A magistrate or policeman. [Slang, Eng.] [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • beak — beak; beak·horn; beak·ing; beak·iron; de·beak; gros·beak; beak·er; …   English syllables

  • beak — (n.) mid 13c., bird s bill, from O.Fr. bec beak, figuratively mouth, also tip or point of a nose, a lance, a ship, a shoe, from L. beccus (Cf. It. becco, Sp. pico), said by Suetonius ( De vita Caesarum 18) to be of Gaulish origin, perhaps from… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Beak|er — «BEE kuhr», noun. 1. a large cup or drinking glass with a wide mouth: »a full beaker of wine. SYNONYM(S): goblet. 2. a thin glass or metal cup used especially in laboratories. A beaker has a flat bottom, no handle, and often a small lip for… …   Useful english dictionary

  • beak|er — «BEE kuhr», noun. 1. a large cup or drinking glass with a wide mouth: »a full beaker of wine. SYNONYM(S): goblet. 2. a thin glass or metal cup used especially in laboratories. A beaker has a flat bottom, no handle, and often a small lip for… …   Useful english dictionary

  • beak — [bi:k] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: bec, from Latin beccus] 1.) the hard pointed mouth of a bird = ↑bill 2.) a large pointed nose used humorously 3.) BrE old fashioned a judge or a male teacher …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • beak — [ bik ] noun count * 1. ) the hard curved or pointed part of a bird s mouth 2. ) VERY INFORMAL a long pointed nose …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • beak — *bill, neb, nib …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • beak — [n] nose of animal bill, mandible, muzzle, neb, nib, nozzle, pecker, proboscis, projection, prow, snout; concept 392 …   New thesaurus

  • beak — ► NOUN 1) a bird s horny projecting jaws; a bill. 2) a projection at the prow of an ancient warship, used in attacking enemy ships. 3) Brit. informal a magistrate or schoolmaster. DERIVATIVES beaked adjective beaky adjective. ORIGIN Latin beccus …   English terms dictionary

  • beak — [bēk] n. [ME bek < OFr bec < L beccus < Gaul] 1. a bird s bill, esp. the large, sharp, horny bill of a bird of prey 2. a beaklike part or thing, as the protruding mouthpart of various insects, fishes, etc., or the spout of a pitcher 3.… …   English World dictionary

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