beech

n.; pl. Beeches [ OE. beche, AS. b&unr_;ce; akin to D. beuk, OHG. buocha, G. buche, Icel. beyki, Dan. bög, Sw. bok, Russ. buk, L. fagus, Gr. &unr_; oak, &unr_; to eat, Skr. bhaksh; the tree being named originally from the esculent fruit. See Book, and cf. 7th Buck, Buckwheat. ] (Bot.) A tree of the genus Fagus. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It grows to a large size, having a smooth bark and thick foliage, and bears an edible triangular nut, of which swine are fond. The Fagus sylvatica is the European species, and the Fagus ferruginea that of America. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beech drops (Bot.), a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of beeches (Epiphegus Americana). --
Beech marten (Zool.), the stone marten of Europe (Mustela foina). --
Beech mast, the nuts of the beech, esp. as they lie under the trees, in autumn. --
Beech oil, oil expressed from the mast or nuts of the beech tree. --
Cooper beech, a variety of the European beech with copper-colored, shining leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. b&unr_;cen. ] Consisting, or made, of the wood or bark of the beech; belonging to the beech. “Plain beechen vessels.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The nut of the beech tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

The beech. [ 1913 Webster ]