n. [ OE. bek, F. bec, fr. Celtic; cf. Gael. & Ir. bac, bacc, hook, W. bach. ] 1. (Zool.) (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything projecting or ending in a point, like a beak, as a promontory of land. Carew. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Naut.) That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Bot.) Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit or other parts of a plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Far.) A toe clip. See Clip, n. (Far.). [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A magistrate or policeman. [ Slang, Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having a beak or a beaklike point; beak-shaped. “Each beaked promontory.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) Furnished with a process or a mouth like a beak; rostrate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beaked whale (Zool.), a cetacean of the genus Hyperoodon; the bottlehead whale. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An open-mouthed, thin glass vessel, having a projecting lip for pouring; -- used for holding solutions requiring heat. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Arch.) An ornament used in rich Norman doorways, resembling a head with a beak. Parker. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Arch.) A molding whose section is thought to resemble a beak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Same as Crossbill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gross + beak: cf. F. gros-bec. ] (Zool.) One of various species of finches having a large, stout beak. The common European grosbeak or hawfinch is Coccothraustes vulgaris. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Among the best known American species are the rose-breasted (Habia Ludoviciana); the blue (Guiraca cœrulea); the pine (Pinicola enucleator); and the evening grosbeak. See Hawfinch, and Cardinal grosbeak, Evening grosbeak, under Cardinal and Evening. [ Written also grossbeak. ]

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n. (Zool.) See Grosbeak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any slender, marine fish of the genus Hemirhamphus, or of the family Hemiramphidae, having an elongated protruding lower jaw; -- called also balahoo. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A fish. See Hornfish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The American redbellied snipe (Macrorhamphus scolopaceus); -- called also long-billed dowitcher. [ 1913 Webster ]