beak

UK /biːk/ US /biːk/
noun 7verb 3

Definitions

noun

1

A rigid structure projecting from the front of a bird's face, used for pecking, grooming, foraging, carrying items, eating food, etc.

2

A similar pointed structure forming the nose and mouth of various animals, such as turtles, platypuses, whales, etc.

3

The long projecting sucking mouth of some insects and other invertebrates, as in the Hemiptera.

4

The upper or projecting part of the shell, near the hinge of a bivalve.

5

The prolongation of certain univalve shells containing the canal.

verb

1

To strike with the beak.

2

To seize with the beak.

3

To play truant.

Knew the Jampot well. I spent many an afternoon while I was beaking school in that fine establishment.

I was living at home at her age, by and large doing what my parents told me, apart from beaking school.

noun

1

A justice of the peace; a magistrate.

They take up men, Dick, for going about in women's clothes, and vice versaw, I suppose. You'll bail me, old fellaa, if I have to make my bow to the beak, won't you?

Harry looked rather bulky, you know, Tom, and the slop (policeman) says, 'Hallo, what you got here?' and by [blank] he took us both before the beak.

2

A schoolmaster (originally, at Eton).

It’s easy enough to be a beak when you’re young and athletic, and can offer the latest University smattering. The difficulty is to keep your place when you get old and stiff, and younger smatterers are pushing up behind you. Crawl into a boarding-house and you’re safe. A master’s life is frightfully tragic.

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