Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
beak — beak; beak·horn; beak·ing; beak·iron; de·beak; gros·beak; beak·er; … English syllables
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 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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
