Beak

[O. Eng. becke, Scot. beil, Ir. & Gael. bec, point, beak, Arm. bek, W. pig; D. bek, Pr. bec, It. becco, Pg. bico, Sp. pico.]

1Sense 1. (Nat. Hist.) (a.) The bill or nib of a bird, consisting of a horny substance, either straight or curving, and ending in a point. (b.) A similar bill in other animals, as the turtles, &c. (c.) The long projecting trunk or sucker mouth of some insects, and other invertebrate species, as in the weevils or curculios, (d.) The upper or projecting part of the shell, near the hinge of a bivalve, as in the clam. (e.) The narrow prolongation of a univalve shell beyond the aperture in the axial line, containing what is usually called the canal. Dana.

2Sense 2. (Antiq.) A pointed piece of wood, fortified with sharp and pointed irons, and fastened to the prow of ancient galleys, in order to pierce the vessels of an enemy.

3Sense 3. (Naut.) That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee.

4Sense 4. Any thing ending in a point, like a beak, as a promontory of land. Carew.

5Sense 5. (Bot.) A process, like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit in certain plants. Brande.

6Sense 6. (Far.) A little shoe, at the toe, about an inch long, turned up and fastened in upon the fore part of the hoof. Farrier’s Dict.