Part 560

2. Fig.: A spy or detective; a constable.

Beak (bk), n. [OE. bek, F. bec, fr. Celtic; cf. Gael. & Ir. bac, bacc, hook, W. bach.] 1. (Zoöl.) (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.

2. Anything projecting or ending in a point, like a beak, as a promontory of land. Carew.

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.

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

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.

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

7. (Far.) A toe clip. See Clip, n. (Far.).

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

Beaked (bkt), a. 1. Having a beak or a beaklike point; beak-shaped. "Each beaked promontory." Milton.

2. (Biol.) Furnished with a process or a mouth like a beak; rostrate.

Beaked whale (Zoöl.), a cetacean of the genus Hyperoodon; the bottlehead whale.

Beak"er (bk"r), n. [OE. biker; akin to Icel. bikarr, Sw. bägare, Dan. baeger, G. becher, It. bicchiere; -- all fr. LL. bicarium, prob. fr. Gr. bi^kos wine jar, or perh. L. bacar wine vessel. Cf. Pitcher a jug.] 1. A large drinking cup, with a wide mouth, supported on a foot or standard.

2. An open-mouthed, thin glass vessel, having a projecting lip for pouring; -- used for holding solutions requiring heat. Knight.

Beak"head` (&?;), n. 1. (Arch.) An ornament used in rich Norman doorways, resembling a head with a beak. Parker.

2. (Naut.) (a) A small platform at the fore part of the upper deck of a vessel, which contains the water closets of the crew. (b) (Antiq.) Same as Beak, 3.

Beak"i*ron (&?;), n. [From Bickern.] A bickern; a bench anvil with a long beak, adapted to reach the interior surfaces of sheet metal ware; the horn of an anvil.

Beal (bl), n. [See Boil a tumor.] (Med.) A small inflammatory tumor; a pustule. [Prov. Eng.]

Beal, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bealed (&?;); p. pr & vb. n. Bealing.] To gather matter; to swell and come to a head, as a pimple. [Prov. Eng.]

Be"-all` (&?;), n. The whole; all that is to be. [Poetic] Shak.

Beam (bm), n. [AS. beám beam, post, tree, ray of light; akin to OFries. bm tree, OS. bm, D. boom, OHG. boum, poum, G. baum, Icel. baðmr, Goth. bagms and Gr. fy^ma a growth, fy^nai to become, to be. Cf. L. radius staff, rod, spoke of a wheel, beam or ray, and G. strahl arrow, spoke of a wheel, ray or beam, flash of lightning. √97. See Be; cf. Boom a spar.] 1. Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.

2. One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship.

The beams of a vessel are strong pieces of timber stretching across from side to side to support the decks. Totten.

3. The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another.

4. The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.

The doubtful beam long nods from side to side. Pope.

5. The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches.

6. The pole of a carriage. [Poetic] Dryden.