beaver

1
[ bee-ver ]
/ ˈbi vər /

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).

Origin of beaver

1
before 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, adjective

Definition for beaver (2 of 2)

beaver 2
[ 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

2
1400–50; 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

Example sentences from the Web for beaver

British Dictionary definitions for beaver (1 of 3)

beaver 1
/ (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)

beaver 2
/ (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

Idioms and Phrases with beaver

beaver

see busy as a beaver; eager beaver; work like a beaver.