beaver
1[ bee-ver ]
/ ˈbi vər /
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noun, plural bea·vers, (especially collectively) bea·ver for 1.
verb (used without object)
British. to work very hard or industriously at something (usually followed by away).
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Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of beaver
1before 1000; Middle English bever,Old English beofor, befor; cognate with German Biber,Lithuanian bebrùs,Latin fiber,Sanskrit babhrús reddish brown, large ichneumon
usage note for beaver
Beaver as a term for a woman is perceived as insulting because it refers to the female in sexual terms. However, in the 1970s, it was CB radio slang, neutral in connotation and even used by women themselves as a term of self-reference.
OTHER WORDS FROM beaver
bea·ver·like, bea·ver·ish, adjectiveWords nearby beaver
Beauvais, Beauvoir, beaux, Beaux-Arts, beaux-esprits, beaver, beaverboard, Beaverbrook, beaver cloth, Beavercreek, Beaver Dam
Definition for beaver (2 of 2)
beaver2
[ bee-ver ]
/ ˈbi vər /
noun Armor.
a piece of plate armor for covering the lower part of the face and throat, worn especially with an open helmet, as a sallet or basinet.Compare buffe, wrapper (def. 7).
a piece of plate armor, pivoted at the sides, forming part of a close helmet below the visor or ventail.
Origin of beaver
21400–50; late Middle English bavier, bavour<Middle French baviere (Old French: bib), equivalent to bave spit, dribble + -iere<Latin -āria, feminine of -ārius-ary; alteration of vowel in the initial syllable is unexplained
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for beaver (1 of 3)
beaver1
/ (ˈbiːvə) /
noun
verb
(intr usually foll by away) to work industriously or steadily
Word Origin for beaver
Old English beofor; compare Old Norse biōrr, Old High German bibar, Latin fiber, Sanskrit babhrú red-brown
British Dictionary definitions for beaver (2 of 3)
beaver2
/ (ˈbiːvə) /
noun
a movable piece on a medieval helmet used to protect the lower part of the face
Word Origin for beaver
C15: from Old French baviere, from baver to dribble
British Dictionary definitions for beaver (3 of 3)
Beaver
/ (ˈbiːvə) /
noun
a member of a Beaver Colony, the youngest group of boys (aged 6–8 years) in the Scout Association
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Idioms and Phrases with beaver
beaver
see busy as a beaver; eager beaver; work like a beaver.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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