beaver

n. [ OE. bever, AS. beofer, befer; akin to D. bever, OHG. bibar, G. biber, Sw. bäfver, Dan. bæver, Lith. bebru, Russ. bobr', Gael. beabhar, Corn. befer, L. fiber, and Skr. babhrus large ichneumon; also as an adj., brown, the animal being probably named from its color. √253. See Brown. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Zool.) An amphibious rodent, of the genus Castor. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It has palmated hind feet, and a broad, flat tail. It is remarkable for its ingenuity in constructing its lodges or “houses, ” and dams across streams. It is valued for its fur, and for the material called castor, obtained from two small bags in the groin of the animal. The European species is Castor fiber, and the American is generally considered a variety of this, although sometimes called Castor Canadensis. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The fur of the beaver. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A hat, formerly made of the fur of the beaver, but now usually of silk. [ 1913 Webster ]

A brown beaver slouched over his eyes. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Beaver cloth, a heavy felted woolen cloth, used chiefly for making overcoats. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A man's beard. [ PJC ]

6. The hair on a woman's pubic area; -- vulgar. [ vulgar slang ] [ PJC ]

7. A woman; -- vulgar and offensive. [ vulgar slang ] [ PJC ]

8. A person who works enthusiastically and diligently; -- used especially in the phrase eager beaver. [ informal ] [ PJC ]

Beaver rat (Zool.), an aquatic ratlike quadruped of Tasmania (Hydromys chrysogaster). --
Beaver skin, the furry skin of the beaver. --
Bank beaver. See under 1st Bank. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. baviere, bauier, beavoir, bever; fr. F. bavière, fr. bave slaver, drivel, foam, OF., prattle, drivel, perh. orig. an imitative word. Bavière, according to Cotgrave, is the bib put before a (slavering) child. ] That piece of armor which protected the lower part of the face, whether forming a part of the helmet or fixed to the breastplate. It was so constructed (with joints or otherwise) that the wearer could raise or lower it to eat and drink. [ 1913 Webster ]

. Oregon; -- a nickname. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]