Bea"ver (&?;), n. [OE. bever, AS.
beofer, befer; akin to D. bever, OHG. bibar, G.
biber, Sw. bäfver, Dan. bæver, Lith.
bebru, Russ. bobr', Gael. beabhar, Corn. befer,
L. fiber, and Skr. babhrus large ichneumon; also as an adj.,
brown, the animal being probably named from its color. √253.
See Brown.]
1. (Zoöl.) An amphibious rodent, of the
genus Castor.
&fist; It has palmated hind feet, and a broad, flat tail. It is
remarkable for its ingenuity in constructing its lodges or "houses,\' and
dams across streams. It is valued for its fur, and for the material called
castor, obtained from two small bags in the groin of the animal.
The European species is Castor fiber, and the American is generally
considered a variety of this, although sometimes called Castor
Canadensis.
2. The fur of the beaver.
3. A hat, formerly made of the fur of the beaver,
but now usually of silk.
A brown beaver slouched over his eyes.
Prescott.
4. Beaver cloth, a heavy felted woolen cloth, used
chiefly for making overcoats.
Beaver rat (Zoöl.), an aquatic ratlike
quadruped of Tasmania (Hydromys chrysogaster). --
Beaver skin, the furry skin of the beaver. --
Bank beaver. See under 1st Bank.
Bea"ver, n. [OE. baviere,
bauier, beavoir, bever; fr. F. bavière,
fr. bave slaver, drivel, foam, OF., prattle, drivel, perh. orig. an
imitative word. Bavière, according to Cotgrave, is the bib
put before a (slavering) child.] That piece of armor which protected
the lower part of the face, whether forming a part of the helmet or fixed
to the breastplate. It was so constructed (with joints or otherwise) that
the wearer could raise or lower it to eat and drink.