beck

¹

[ bek ]

noun

1. a gesture used to signal, summon, or direct someone.
2. Chiefly Scot. a bow or curtsy of greeting.

verb (used with or without object)

1. Archaic. beckon.

beck

²

[ bek ]

noun

, North England.

1. a brook, especially a swiftly running stream with steep banks.

beck

³

[ bek ]

verb (used with object)

, Metalworking.

1. to form (a billet or the like) into a tire or hoop by rolling or hammering on a mandrel or anvil.

Beck

⁴

[ bek ]

noun

1. Dave, 1894–1993, U.S. labor leader: president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 1952–57.

beck

¹

/ bɛk /

noun

1. a nod, wave, or other gesture or signal
2. at someone's beck and call
   at someone's beck and call ready to obey someone's orders instantly; subject to someone's slightest whim

beck

²

/ bɛk /

noun

1. (in N England) a stream, esp a swiftly flowing one

Word History and Origins

Origin of beck¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb bekken, bec, variant of beckenen, bek(e)nen beckon; noun derivative of the verb

Origin of beck²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bek, bec(k), from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse bekkr; akin to Old English bæc, bec, bece, Dutch beek, German Bach “brook”

Origin of beck³

First recorded in 1830–35 as beck-iron; verb use of the noun beck, shortening of beck-iron, a variant of bick-iron

Word History and Origins

Origin of beck¹

C14: short for becnen to beckon

Origin of beck²

Old English becc , from Old Norse bekkr ; related to Old English bece , Old Saxon beki , Old High German bah brook, Sanskrit bhanga wave

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at someone's beck and call, ready to do someone's bidding; subject to someone's slightest wish:

   He has three servants at his beck and call.

More idioms and phrases containing beck

see at someone's beck and call .

Example Sentences

By Ana Marie Cox Just in time for Christmas, Glenn Beck goes for hipster-chic as a conservative fashion statement.

From The Daily Beast

Beck is a close student of history and propaganda, and especially the history of propaganda.

From The Daily Beast

Just in time for Christmas, Glenn Beck goes for hipster-chic as a conservative fashion statement.

From The Daily Beast

Beck is in the same position as any post-industrial capitalist entrepreneur.

From The Daily Beast

What often is forgotten—and what Beck could probably stand to remember—is that the massacre was, technically, a firefight.

From The Daily Beast

Even Chet Belding, who was always at her beck and call, was terribly busy these days.

From Project Gutenberg

Love has come rushing to the beck of a tip-tilted chin, or the tone of a voice, or the droop of an eyelid.

From Project Gutenberg

Which being done I took leave and supped at my father's, where was my cozen Beck come lately out of the country.

From Project Gutenberg

Many men were at his beck throughout that winter, and when the spring-tide came called he a muster and gat him many more.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a patient, sweet-smiling woman in nurse's costume who came and went to the beck and call of every man of us.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• current
• flood
• flow
• rush
• spate
• surge
• tide
• torrent
• tributary