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Webster 1913 Edition

Beech

Beech

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Beeches
.
[OE.
beche
, AS.
b[GREEK]ce
; akin to D.
beuk
, OHG.
buocha
, G.
buche
, Icel.
beyki
, Dan.
bög
, Sw.
bok
, Russ.
buk
, L.
fagus
, Gr.
[GREEK]
oak,
[GREEK]
to eat, Skr.
bhaksh
; the tree being named originally from the esculent fruit. See
Book
, and cf. 7th
Buck
,
Buckwheat
.]
(Bot.)
A tree of the genus
Fagus
.
☞ It grows to a large size, having a smooth bark and thick foliage, and bears an edible triangular nut, of which swine are fond. The
Fagus sylvatica
is the European species, and the
Fagus ferruginea
that of America.
Beech drops
(Bot.)
,
a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of beeches (
Epiphegus Americana
).
–
Beech marten
(Zool.)
,
the stone marten of Europe (
Mustela foina
).
–
Beech mast
,
the nuts of the beech, esp. as they lie under the trees, in autumn.
–
Beech oil
,
oil expressed from the mast or nuts of the beech tree.
–
Cooper beech
,
a variety of the European beech with copper-colored, shining leaves.

Webster 1828 Edition

Beech

BEECH

,
Noun.
[Gr. payos; L. fagus.] A tree arranged by Linne under the genus fagus, with the chestnut. The beech grows to a large size, with branches forming a beautiful head, with thick foliage. The bark is smooth and of a silvery cast. The mast or nuts are the food of swine, and of certain wild animals, and yield a good oil for lamps. When eaten by man, they are said to occasion giddiness and headache.

Definition 2024

beech

beech

English

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest in spring. Hessen, Germany.

Wikispecies

Noun

beech ‎(plural beeches)

  1. A tree of the genus Fagus having a smooth, light grey trunk, oval, pointed leaves and many branches.
  2. The wood of the beech tree.

Synonyms

  • beech tree

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology

From Middle English beche, from Old English bēċe, from Proto-Germanic *bōkijǭ, from Proto-Germanic *bōks ‎(“beech; book”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂ǵos ‎(“beech tree”).

Pronunciation

  • enPR: bēch, IPA(key): /biːt͡ʃ/
  • Rhymes: -iːtʃ
  • Homophone: beach

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