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Webster 1913 Edition

Beaver

Bea′ver

,
Noun.
[OE.
bever
, AS.
beofer
,
befer
; akin to D.
bever
, OHG.
bibar
, G.
biber
, Sw.
bäfver
, Dan.
bæver
, Lith.
bebru
, Russ.
bobr’
, Gael.
beabhar
, Corn.
befer
, L.
fiber
, and Skr.
babhrus
large ichneumon; also as an adj.,
brown
, the animal being probably named from its color. √253. See
Brown
.]
1.
(Zool.)
An amphibious rodent, of the genus
Castor
.
☞ It has palmated hind feet, and a broad, flat tail. It is remarkable for its ingenuity in constructing its lodges or “houses,” and dams across streams. It is valued for its fur, and for the material called
castor
, obtained from two small bags in the groin of the animal. The European species is
Castor fiber
, and the American is generally considered a variety of this, although sometimes called
Castor Canadensis
.
2.
The fur of the beaver.
3.
A hat, formerly made of the fur of the beaver, but now usually of silk.
A brown
beaver
slouched over his eyes.
Prescott.
4.
Beaver cloth, a heavy felted woolen cloth, used chiefly for making overcoats.
Beaver rat
(Zool.)
,
an aquatic ratlike quadruped of Tasmania (
Hydromys chrysogaster
).
–
Beaver skin
,
the furry skin of the beaver.
–
Bank beaver
.
See under 1st
Bank
.

Bea′ver

,
Noun.
[OE.
baviere
,
bauier
,
beavoir
,
bever
; fr. F.
bavière
, fr.
bave
slaver, drivel, foam, OF., prattle, drivel, perh. orig. an imitative word.
Bavière
, according to Cotgrave, is the bib put before a (slavering) child.]
That piece of armor which protected the lower part of the face, whether forming a part of the helmet or fixed to the breastplate. It was so constructed (with joints or otherwise) that the wearer could raise or lower it to eat and drink.

Webster 1828 Edition

Beaver

BE'AVER

,
Noun.
[L.fiber.]
1.
An amphibious quadruped, of the genus Castor. It has short ears, a blunt nose, small fore feet, large hind feet, with a flat ovate tail. It is remarkable for its ingenuity in construction its lodges or habitations, and from this animal is obtained the castor of the shops, which is taken from cods or bags in the groin. Its fur, which is mostly of a chestnut brown, is the material of the best hats.
2.
The fur of the beaver, and a hat made of the fur; also, a part of a helmet that covers the face.

Definition 2024

Beaver

Beaver

See also: beaver

English

Proper noun

Beaver

  1. A surname​.
  2. A native or resident of the American state of Oregon.
  3. A placename
    1. A town in Arkansas.
    2. A city in Iowa.
    3. A village in Ohio.
    4. A town in Oklahoma.
    5. A borough in Pennsylvania.
    6. A city in Utah.
    7. A census-designated place in West Virginia.

Related terms

  • Beaverton
  • Beavertown
  • Beaver Town
  • Beaver Township
  • Town of Beaver
  • City of Beaver
  • Beaver City
  • Beaverville

beaver

beaver

English

Wikispecies

Noun

beaver ‎(plural beavers or beaver)

  1. An aquatic rodent of the genus Castor, having a wide, flat tail and webbed feet.
  2. A hat, of various shape, made from a felted beaver fur (or later of silk), fashionable in Europe between 1550 and 1850.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Prescott
      a brown beaver slouched over his eyes
  3. (vulgar, slang) The pubic hair and/or **** of a woman.
  4. The fur of the beaver.
  5. Beaver cloth, a heavy felted woollen cloth, used chiefly for making overcoats.
  6. A brown colour, like that of a beaver.
    beaver colour:    
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
See also
  • Appendix:Animals

Etymology 2

Noun

beaver ‎(plural beavers)

  1. Alternative spelling of bevor
    • 1600, Edward Fairfax, The Jerusalem Delivered of Tasso, XII, lxvii:
      With trembling hands her beaver he untied, / Which done, he saw, and seeing knew her face.
    • 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe:
      Without alighting from his horse, the conqueror called for a bowl of wine, and opening the beaver, or lower part of his helmet, announced that he quaffed it, “To all true English hearts, and to the confusion of foreign tyrants.”
    • 1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, or the Prince of Darkness, Faber & Faber 1992, p.128:
      As each one brings a little of himself to what he sees you brought the trappings of your historic preoccupations, so that Monsieur flattered you by presenting himself with beaver up like Hamlet's father's ghost!

References

    • The Manual of Heraldry, Fifth Edition, by Anonymous, London, 1862, online at

    Etymology

    Captialization of beaver

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