| Beer | n. [ OE. beor, ber, AS. beór; akin to Fries. biar, Icel. bj&unr_;rr, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E. brew. √93, See Brew. ] 1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but commonly from barley malt, with hops or some other substance to impart a bitter flavor. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ Beer has different names, as small beer, ale, porter, brown stout, lager beer, according to its strength, or other qualities. See Ale. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]
Small beer, weak beer; (fig.) insignificant matters. “To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| beer belly | n. a protruding potbelly caused by excessive drinking of beer.
Syn. -- beer gut. [ PJC ] In one of the less surprising revelations of the year, researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and colleagues have confirmed that excessive consumption of beer can lead to the condition commonly known as beer belly. At the same time, however, they discovered that, beyond aesthetic concerns, the condition may point to health hazards of a more serious nature. In a comparison of beer drinkers and wine drinkers, the scientists found that beer tends to build a central paunch, or “potbelly”, while wine drinkers tend to have narrower waists, even when the same amount of alcohol and calories is consumed by both. The Scientist -- December 11, 1995. |
