beaver1
/ˈbiːvə
/noun (plural same or beavers)
1A large semiaquatic broad-tailed rodent native to North America and northern Eurasia. It is noted for its habit of gnawing through trees to fell them in order to make dams.
- Family Castoridae and genus Castor: the North American C. canadensis and the Eurasian C. fiber.
- This slow-moving creature is Canada's largest rodent next to the beaver.
- For all the interest in leopards, Waser thinks philopatry may turn out to be more common in species such as beavers, wood rats and kangaroo rats-animals in which females make large investments in their ranges.
1.1 [mass noun] The soft light brown fur of the beaver: long coats trimmed with light beaver...
- Also on the program that night were the Marshall Dancers from the Lower Yukon, dressed in sumptuous headdresses that were trimmed with wolf and beaver fur.
- The biggest difference was that New Netherland and its port town were together principally a trading colony, buying beaver and other fur skins from the Indians to sell at a profit in Europe.
- There were six different furs to choose from including brown and grey Persian lamb, and beaver.
1.2 (also beaver hat) chiefly historical A hat made of felted beaver fur.Padlin doubted his eyes were visible, shadowed from the overhead gaslights by the brim of his beaver hat....
- Savvy Yanker bankrollers in Missouri rounded up a bunch of tough lads for capturing beaver pelts to satisfy the rage of the day - the beaver hat.
- Franklin used his fame to win an alliance with France, even letting himself be pictured in a beaver hat.
1.3 (also beaver cloth) [mass noun] A heavy woollen cloth resembling felted beaver fur.Florence was given away by her father and wore a travelling dress of brown beaver cloth with hat and gloves to match....
- It is similar to beaver cloth but lighter and finer.
- The Sears ad copy, ‘The coat is made from an extra good quality Rareton Mills blue beaver cloth and makes a very dressy and warm garment.’
1.4A very hard-working person: Hopkins was a regular beaver where gardening was concerned...
- I have been a busy little beaver this week in Canberra, oh yes.
- Sorry there's no proper post from me today as I've been a busy little beaver…
- There's a small bit on Liffey Street and their working away like beavers to have that done by Thursday night.
2 (Beaver) A boy aged about 6 or 7 who is an affiliated member of the Scout Association.The group has around 80 members, with Beavers, Cubs and Scouts....
- Joshua, who lives at Carleton-in-Craven, has been a member of the Beavers for 18 months and will now move on to the Cubs.
- Tickets are available from any member of Beavers, Cubs or Scouts and cost just 2.
verb [no object] (usually beaver away) informal
Work hard: Bridget beavered away to keep things running smoothly...
- Workers in bright-yellow hard hats are beavering away, moving bucketloads of stones in wheelbarrows and trying to clear a pile of rubble with a digger.
- No, really, we've been working hard, beavering away while Jane, who normally occupies this slot, has sloped off on the piste in Les Alps.
- But maybe a PR system would encourage some of the old Labour figures to make a break or allow some new far-left formation to emerge - it would certainly encourage people to ‘do a Galloway’ rather than beaver away for change inside Labour.
Origin
Old English beofor, befor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bever and German Biber, from an Indo-European root meaning 'brown'.
Rhymes
beaver2
/ˈbiːvə/noun
The lower part of the face guard of a helmet in a suit of armour. The term is also used to refer to the upper part or visor, or to a single movable guard.The ghost wears the beaver, or visor, of the helmet raised....
- But the only sport was to behold him eat; for by reason his helmet was on, and his beaver lifted, he could put nothing into his mouth himself if others did not help him to find the way.
Origin
Late 15th century: from Old French baviere 'bib', from baver 'slaver'.
beaver3
/ˈbiːvə/noun
1 vulgar slang, chiefly North American A woman’s genitals or pubic area.
1.1A woman regarded in sexual terms.
2British informal, dated A bearded man.Skittish young girls would rush up to a bearded man in the street and tug his beard, yelling Beaver!....
- One walked with a companion; one saw a bearded man; one shouted "Beaver," scoring a point for every beard.
Origin
Early 20th century: of unknown origin.