full beamn.
/ˌfʊl ˈbiːm/, U.S. /ˌfʊl ˈbim/ chiefly British.
The setting at which a vehicle's headlights are undipped and brightest; a beam from a headlight on this setting. Cf. main beam n. (b) at main adj.2 Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > headlight > main beam
brights1920
high beam1932
full beam1934
main beam1964
1934 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 24 Jan. 12/7 The streets are sufficiently well lighted to obviate the necessity for the full beam of the headlights.
1938 Portsmouth (New Hampsh.) Herald 9 July 1/3 He looked up into the glare of the lights of the police car which..was parked..with the headlights on at full beam.
1951 Financial Times 19 Nov. 9/4 Both lights remain on and both dip to the left, but some drivers ‘flash’ at them in the belief that the lamps are at full beam.
2006 Jrnl. (Newcastle) (Nexis) 28 Oct. 50 Full beam can be used on unlit roads, but revert to dipped lights when following another vehicle.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1934