beckn.1
/bɛk/, U.S. /bɛk/ 1. A brook or stream: the ordinary name in those parts of England from Lincolnshire to Cumbria which were occupied by the Danes and Norwegians; hence, often used spec. in literature to connote a brook with stony bed, or rugged course, such as are those of the north country.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > stream > [noun] > brook or brooklet
brookc888
ritheeOE
burnc1000
bournc1390
becka1400
brooketa1552
gill1635
stell1651
branch1663
turlough1686
brooklet1813
nant1923
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 8946 Made a brig, Ouer a littel becc [Vesp. burn, Trin. Cambr. ryuere] to lig.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 29 Bek watyr, rendylle, riuulus, torrens.
1481 Descr. Boundaries Ripon in J. T. Fowler Acts Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1875) 341 Markington becke.
a1552 J. Leland Itinerary (1710) I. 59 There cummith a very litle Bek thorough the Toun of Northalverton..communely caulid Sunnebek.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 722 Wandering beckes [printed beakes] and violent swift brookes.
1630 R. Sanderson Serm. II. 276 Shallowest becks run with the greatest noise.
1691 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Words (ed. 2) 131 A Beck, a Rivulet or small Brook.
1796 R. Southey Joan of Arc i. 235 I have laid me down..and watch'd The beck roll glittering to the noon~tide sun.
1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton xxvii. 369 Each gorge and valley has its beck.
2. The valley-bottom through which a beck flows: cf. bache n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > valley > [noun] > part of
bittemlOE
rakelOE
becka1642
axis1830
thalweg1831
sole1880
a1642 H. Best Farming & Memorandum Bks. (1984) 30 Keepe them [sc. sheep] togeather in some well fenced place, as the Bricke close..the newe intacke in the towne becke.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
beckn.2
/bɛk/, U.S. /bɛk/ 1. A mute signal or significant gesture, especially one indicating assent or notifying a command; e.g. a nod, a motion of the hand or fore-finger, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > gesturing or gesture > [noun] > a gesture
sign?c1225
abearc1350
countenancea1375
becka1382
motiona1398
signaclea1450
beckona1718
motioning1843
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job xxvi. 11 The pileris of heuene..quaken at his bek.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. xlviii. 1200 Þese beþ acounted tongeles and vseþ signes and bekkes in stede of spekynge.
1486 Bk. St. Albans D j.
c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. lxi/1 They wt a bek on thinge wyl afferme, and the same streit wyl denye.
1598 B. Yong tr. A. Pérez 2nd Pt. Diana in tr. J. de Montemayor Diana 162 Giuing a becke with his head to his Shepherdesse in token of thanks.
1635 F. Quarles Emblemes i. xiii. 54 If Pleasure becken with her balmey hand, Her becke's a strong command.
1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. vii. 207 With a Beck of the Head or Hand, as we beckon to Servants.
1846 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles xxxii. 445 Armies of heaven..whom a beck from Him would bring forth.
2. Hence, The slightest indication of will or command, and transferred absolute order or control; esp. in phrases to have at one's beck, to hang upon the beck of, to be at the beck and call of.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > have complete control over
windc1374
to bring (a person) above the thumb1469
to have to mastery1480
to have at one's beck1530
to turn and wind1557
to bring any one to, or have him at, one's bent1575
to turn over the thumb1603
to lead in a stringc1616
to hold at school1647
to wind (a person, etc.) round one's (little) finger1698
to twirl (a person) round one's finger1748
to twist (a person) round one's finger1780
to play with ——1827
to have (one) on toast1886
to have (got) by the balls1918
to have the wood onc1926
society > authority > subjection > be subject to [verb (transitive)]
underliec897
undergo1586
underserve1611
to hang upon the beck of1635
ancillate1641
to be at the beck and call of1869
work1950
society > authority > subjection > be under authority [verb (intransitive)]
hearc893
understand?a1200
subservec1443
subjectc1475
acquiesce1660
truck1665
truckle1667
to be at the beck and call of1869
1530 tr. Caesar Commentaryes iii. 4 It should be ready at a beck.
1587 J. Higgins Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) Cordila xxv I had the Britaynes at what becke I wou'd.
1635 E. Pagitt Christianographie 117 Bound to your Holinesse, and wholly hanging upon your becke.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 229 His conversion brought the whole Towne into order under Gods becke.
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 74. ⁋7 He..expects to find the world rolling at his beck.
1869 A. Maclaren Serm. preached in Manch. 2nd Ser. iv. 66 Christ's love is not at the beck and call of our fluctuating affections.
3. A gesture expressive of salutation or respect; an inclination of the head; an obeisance, a bow, a curtsey, a nod. Chiefly Scottish.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [noun] > manifestation of respect > bowing, kneeling, or curtseying > a bow or curtsey
crookc1330
beckc1375
obediencec1390
obeisancea1393
reverencec1400
inclinationa1425
courtesy1508
curtsy1513
honour1531
leg1548
duck1554
beisance1556
jouk1567
congee1577
crouch1597
humblesso1599
inclinabo1607
salaam1613
dop1616
scrape1628
bowa1656
visit-leg1673
couchee1691
dip1792
bob1825
c1375 J. Wyclif Antecrist 149 Ne wiþ beckus, ne wiþ dugardes, as ypocritis usen.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 29 Bek, or lowte, conquiniscio.
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox & Wolf l. 673 in Poems (1981) 29 ‘Welcome,’..Quod he, with mony binge and mony bek.
?1548 J. Bale Comedy Thre Lawes Nature iv. sig. Eij As good is a becke, as is a dewe vow garde.
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. Cc.iiii With a beck full low he bowed at her feete.
1645 J. Milton L'Allegro in Poems 31 Nods, and Becks, and Wreathed Smiles.
1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (1733) II. 138 She right courteously Return'd a beck.
c1817 J. Hogg Tales & Sketches III. 267 Ellen came into the parlour with a beck as quick and as low as that made by the water ouzel.
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. vi. 104 He retreated with a bow to Romola and a beck to Tito.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
beckn.3
/bɛk/, U.S. /bɛk/ dialect.
An agricultural implement with two hooks, for dressing turnips, hops, etc.; a kind of mattock.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > [noun] > mattock, hoe, or hack > mattock
mattockeOE
beckc1000
twibillc1440
cabbie1653
pattock1729
two-bill1808
mat1895
c1000 Ælfric Gloss. in Wülcker Voc. /106 Ligo, becca.
1875 W. D. Parish Dict. Sussex Dial. Beck, a mattock.
1884 West Sussex Gaz. 25 Sept. 2/4 Turnip cutters, fold bars, becks.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
beckn.4
/bɛk/, U.S. /bɛk/ A large shallow vessel or tub, used in brewing, dyeing, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > brewing > [noun] > vat or vessel for brewing or fermenting
ale fateOE
sesterc1000
bruthen-leadc1275
kimnel1335
tine1337
gyle-fat1341
yeast-fat1367
brew-lead1369
coomb?a1400
gyle-tunc1425
brewing-lead1444
brewing vessel1462
work lead1471
lead1504
brewing copper1551
gyle-tub1568
kier1573
batch1697
ale vat1701
working tun1703
tun1713
brewing tub1766
flat1791
round1806
beck1828
gyle1836
tun-tub1842
stone-square1882
1828 Hull Rockingham 14 June 84/2 Three large guile tubs, several mash tubs and under becks.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
beckv.
/bɛk/, U.S. /bɛk/ 1.
a. intransitive. To make a mute signal, or significant gesture, as by nodding, shaking the fore-finger, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > gesturing or gesture > make gestures [verb (intransitive)]
beckonc950
becka1300
wevec1325
playc1330
to make a countenancea1375
signc1520
token1535
gesture1542
starkle?1544
scrawl1582
gesticulate1609
annuate1623
to make a motion1719
wink1738
motion1788
a1300 E.E. Psalter xxxiv. 19 Whilk þat hates me wilfulli, And beckes with þair eghen lesli.
c1386 G. Chaucer Manciple's Tale 346 Spek nat, but with thyn heed thou bekke.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxx. 422 He comes to late that bekkys Youre bodyes to borow.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. cxliiiv At the whiche wise menne becked, and light men laughed, thynkyng great foly in his high presumpcion.
1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis i. ix. 22 Secretly becking and winking on the Maids, she bade them speake softlier.
1884 T. Woolner Silenus Our sweetest hopes That ever beck with smiles of welcoming.
b. transitive. To express by a beck.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > gesturing or gesture > make gestures [verb (transitive)] > express or accompany by gesture
signc1520
gesture1589
gesticulate1616
beck1821
language1824
flicker1903
physicalize1947
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel II. 72 While turning nods beck thanks for kindness done.
2. transitive (object originally dative.) To make a mute signal to (a person, to approach); to beckon.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > command > command or bidding > command [verb (transitive)] > summon > by gesture
beckonc1440
beck1486
society > communication > indication > gesturing or gesture > make gestures [verb (transitive)] > express or accompany by gesture > without speech
beckonc1275
beck1486
pantomime1847
mimea1894
1486 Bk. St. Albans A j b With yowre hande or with yowre tabur styke, becke yowre hawke to come to you.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iii. iii. 13 When gold and siluer becks me to come on. View more context for this quotation
1629 J. Gaule Practique Theories Christs Predict. 305 Hee [Christ] bowes his Head; as though hee would becke vs towards him.
1839 P. J. Bailey Festus 164 The star Which beams and becks the spirit from afar.
3. intransitive. To make a sign of recognition, respect, or obeisance; to nod, make a slight bow; to curtsey. (Chiefly in Scottish writers.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > respect or show respect [verb (intransitive)] > bow, kneel, or curtsey
loutc825
abowOE
bowa1000
kneel?a1000
kneec1000
crookc1320
to bow the knee1382
inclinec1390
crouchc1394
croukc1394
coucha1500
plya1500
to make or do courtesy1508
beck1535
to make a (long, low, etc.) leg1548
curtsya1556
dopc1557
binge1562
jouk1567
beckon1578
benda1586
humblea1592
vaila1593
to scrape a leg1602
congee1606
to give the stoop1623
leg1628
scrape1645
to drop a curtsy1694
salaam1698
boba1794
dip1818
to make (also perform) a cheese1834
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 575 And call him schir, bek~kand with bayth his kneis.
1571 T. Fortescue tr. P. Mexia Foreste Pref. Verses, Beake, then, and bowe thee lowe.
1686 G. Stuart Joco-serious Disc. 50 She laighly baiking made her honour.
1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses iv. 18 I mun stand becking and binging.
1877 ‘H. A. Page’ T. De Quincey: Life & Writings I. viii. 156 Two philosophers becking and bowing to each other.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1a1400
n.2c1375
n.3c1000n.41828v.a1300