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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.
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.