vər noun
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.
2.
the fur of this animal.
3.
a flat, round hat made of beaver fur or a similar fabric.
4.
5.
Informal. a full beard or a man wearing one.
6.
Informal. an exceptionally active or hard-working person.
7.
Slang: Vulgar.
a.
a woman's pubic area.
b.
Offensive. a woman.
8.
Textiles.
a.
a cotton cloth with a thick nap, used chiefly in the manufacture of work clothes.
b.
(formerly) a heavy, soft, woolen cloth with a thick nap, made to resemble beaver fur.
9.
(initial capital letter) a native or inhabitant of Oregon, the Beaver State (used as a nickname).
verb (used without object)
10.
British. to work very hard or industriously at something (usually followed by away ).
00:10
Beaver
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
| to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable. |
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English bever, Old English beofor, befor; cognate with German Biber, Lithuanian bebrùs, Latin fiber, Sanskrit babhrús reddish brown, large ichneumon
before 1000; Middle English bever, Old English beofor, befor; cognate with German Biber, Lithuanian bebrùs, Latin fiber, Sanskrit babhrús reddish brown, large ichneumon
Related forms
bea·ver·like, bea·ver·ish, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Origin:
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
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To beaver
Collins
World English Dictionary
beaver1 (ˈbiːvə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 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 |
| 2. | the fur of this animal |
| 3. | mountain beaver a burrowing rodent, Aplodontia rufa, of W North America: family Aplodontidae |
| 4. | a tall hat of beaver fur or a fabric resembling it, worn, esp by men, during the 19th century |
| 5. | a woollen napped cloth resembling beaver fur, formerly much used for overcoats, etc |
| 6. | a greyish- or yellowish-brown |
| 7. | obsolete a full beard |
| 8. | a bearded man |
| 9. | (modifier) having the colour of beaver or made of beaver fur or some similar material: a beaver lamb coat; a beaver stole |
| —vb (usually foll by away) | |
| 10. | to work industriously or steadily |
| [Old English beofor; compare Old Norse biōrr, Old High German bibar, Latin fiber, Sanskrit babhrú red-brown] | |
| beaver2 (ˈbiːvə) | |
| —n | |
| a movable piece on a medieval helmet used to protect the lower part of the face | |
| [C15: from Old French baviere, from baver to dribble] | |
| Beaver (ˈbiːvə) | |
| —n | |
| a member of a Beaver Colony, the youngest group of boys (aged 6--8 years) in the Scout Association | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
beaver
O.E. beofor (earlier bebr), from P.Gmc. *bebruz (cf. O.N. biorr, Low Ger. bever, O.H.G. bibar), from PIE *bhebhrus, reduplication of base *bhru- "brown" (cf. Lith. bebrus, Czech bobr, Welsh befer; see bear (n.) for 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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary
beaver definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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