beaver
1- a large, amphibious rodent of the genus Castor, having sharp incisors, webbed hind feet, and a flattened tail, noted for its ability to dam streams with trees, branches, etc.
- the fur of this animal.
- a flat, round hat made of beaver fur or a similar fabric.
- a tall, cylindrical hat for men, formerly made of beaver and now of a fabric simulating this fur.Compare opera hat, silk hat, top hat.
- Informal. a full beard or a man wearing one.
- Informal. an exceptionally active or hard-working person.
- Slang: Vulgar.
- a woman's pubic area.
- Offensive.a term used to refer to a woman.
- Textiles.
- a cotton cloth with a thick nap, used chiefly in the manufacture of work clothes.
- (formerly) a heavy, soft, woolen cloth with a thick nap, made to resemble beaver fur.
- (initial capital letter) a native or inhabitant of Oregon, the Beaver State (used as a nickname).
- British. to work very hard or industriously at something (usually followed by away).
Origin of beaver
1Usage note
beaver
2- 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
2Related Words for beaver
doer, pistol, dynamo, hustler, workhorse, sharpy, self-starter, beaver, fireball, go-getterExamples from the Web for beaver
Contemporary Examples of beaver
I worked like a beaver to get it out, and yet the disease appeared to creep from limb to limb of the study before me.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the ShowRobert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014
The damp, gray Beaver State is attracting the most incoming movers of any other state, according to a new survey.
Commenting on his vanilla—some might even say “hokey”—demeanor, my wife said he reminded her of the father on Leave It to Beaver.
Sure, Mitt Romney seems ripe for parody, what with his Leave It to Beaver vibe and eye-popping wealth.
Is Mitt Romney Beyond Satire? Comedy Writers Underwhelmed by CandidateMichelle Cottle
August 10, 2012
Beaver said Romney “would talk to more of the higher muckety-mucks,” such as Hanley, about these issues.
Historical Examples of beaver
But remember to touch your beaver where the hemlock boughs are low.
Think of living so near a beaver or a water-rat with clothes on!
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
These He said should be slaves; and He ordered them to work forever, like the beaver.
The Last of the MohicansJames Fenimore Cooper
What do you know of your own State if you are ignorant of Beaver.
The Gentleman From IndianaBooth Tarkington
We named the place obviously Beaver Pond, resumed our packs, and pushed on.
The ForestStewart Edward White
beaver
1- a large amphibious rodent, Castor fiber, of Europe, Asia, and North America: family Castoridae . It has soft brown fur, a broad flat hairless tail, and webbed hind feet, and constructs complex dams and houses (lodges) in rivers
- the fur of this animal
- mountain beaver a burrowing rodent, Aplodontia rufa, of W North America: family Aplodontidae
- a tall hat of beaver fur or a fabric resembling it, worn, esp by men, during the 19th century
- a woollen napped cloth resembling beaver fur, formerly much used for overcoats, etc
- a greyish- or yellowish-brown
- obsolete a full beard
- a bearded man
- (modifier) having the colour of beaver or made of beaver fur or some similar materiala beaver lamb coat; a beaver stole
- (intr usually foll by away) to work industriously or steadily
Word Origin for beaver
beaver
2- a movable piece on a medieval helmet used to protect the lower part of the face
Word Origin for beaver
Beaver
- a member of a Beaver Colony, the youngest group of boys (aged 6–8 years) in the Scout Association
Word Origin and History for beaver
Old English beofor, befer (earlier bebr), from Proto-Germanic *bebruz (cf. Old Saxon bibar, Old Norse bjorr, Middle Dutch and Dutch bever, Low German bever, Old High German bibar, German Biber), from PIE *bhebhrus, reduplication of root *bher- (3) "brown, bright" (cf. Lithuanian bebrus, Czech bobr, Welsh befer; see bear (n.) for the likely reason for this). Gynecological sense ("female genitals, especially with a display of pubic hair") is 1927 British slang, transferred from earlier meaning "a bearded man" (1910), from the appearance of split beaver pelts.
Idioms and Phrases with beaver
beaver
see busy as a beaver; eager beaver; work like a beaver.