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into a glass, a crown of bubbles, which stand on the surface sometime after. This is esteemed a proof that the spirit consists ofequal parts of rectitied spirits and phlegm. TRis is a fallaciousrule as to the degree of strength in the goods; because any thingthat will increase the tf’nacity of the spirit, w ill give it this proof,though it be under the due strength.
BEAGLE, the name of a particular kind of hunting-dogs, ofwhich there are several sorts, bee Canis.
BEAK, in ornithology. From the form and structure of thebeaks of birds, Jdnna usalivides this whole family, or general classof animals, into six orders. See Ornithology .
Beak, or Beak-head, of a ship, that part without the ship,before tlie fore-castle, which is fastened to the stem, and is sup-ported by the main knee. It is usually carved and painted,which adds beauty to utility. The beak, called by the Greekst|u£o>.ov, by the Latins rostrum, was an important part in theancient ships of war, which were hence denominated naves roslrutic.
BEAKED, in heraldry, a term used to express the beak orbill of a bird. When the beak aiid legs of a fowl are of a differ-ent tincture from the body, we say beaked and membered ofsuch a tincture.
BEALT, BEALTIT, or BU1LTII, a town of Brecknock-shire in South W'ales, 9- miles from Chester, and 16 X. of Brecknock.
BEAM, in architecture, the largest piece of wood in a build-ing, which lies cross the walls, and serves to support the principalratters of the roof, and into which the feet of these rafters areframed. Xo building has less than two ot these beams, viz. oneat each end. Into these the girder of the garret roof are alsoframed ; and if the building be of timber, the teazle tenons of theposts are framed into them. The proportion of beams in or nearLondon , are fixed, by statute, as follows: a beam fifteen footlong, must be seven inches on one side its square, and five on theother; if it be sixteen feet long, one side must be eight inches, theother six, and so proportionable- to their lengths. In the countrywhere wood is more plentiful, they usually make their beamsstronger.
Beam , in heraldry, is used to express the main horn of a hartor buck.
Beam , or Roller, in weaving, is a long and thick wooden cylin-der placed lengthways on the back part of looms where’ theshuttle is used.
Beam of a Balance. See Balance.
Beam of an Anchor, the straight part or shank of an an-chor, to which the hooks are fastened.
Beam of a Plough , a name given bv our farmers to thegreat timber of the plough, into \yhich all (lie other parts of theplough tail are fixed. See Husbandry.
Beams of a Ship, are the large, main, cross timbers, stretch-ing from side to side, which hold the sides of a ship from fallingtogether, and which also support the decks and orlops of the ship.The main beam is that next the hiain-masl; and from it they arereckoned by first, second, and third beam. The great beam isalso called the midship beam. There are usually 24 beams onthe low er deck of a ship of 74 guns, and to the other decks addi-tional ones in proportion, as the ship lengthens above. Hencethe following phrases in sea language:
1. Beam , before the, an arch of the horizon comprehendedbetween the line of the beam, and that point of the compass whichshe stems.
2. Beam , on the, any distance from the ship on a liiv? withthe beams, or at right angles with the keel. Any object that liesE. or W. when the ship steers northward, is said to be on thestarboard or larboard beam.
3. Beam , on the Weather, signifies on the weather side ofthe ship.
Beam , [ sunnebeam, Sax. a ray of the sun,] the ray of light'emitted from some luminous body, or received by the eye.Beam-antlf.r, the branch of a deer’s horn next the head.
Beam Compasses, a wooden or brass instrument, with slidingsockets, to carry several shifting points, in order to draw circleswith very long radii.
Bf.am-fish, a sea-monster like a pike.
BEAMINSTER, a town of Dorsetshire . Lon. 2. 50. W.Lat. 52. 45. X.
BEAN, in botany. SeeVicrA.
Beaks, in fishing, with proper management, make the finest of
all baits. The method of preparing them for that purpose is this:take a new earthen pot glazed on the inside, boil some beans init, suppose a quarter of a peck : they must be boiled in river-w a-ter, and should be previously steeped in some warm water for sixor seven hours. When they are about hah-boiled, put in threeor four ounces of honey, and two or three grains of musk : letthem boil a little on, then take them off the lire. They are tobe used in this manner: seek out a clean place, where there areno weeds, that the fish may see and take the beans at the bottomof the water. Throw some in at five or six in the morning, andin the evening for some days. This will draw them together, aridthey may be taken in a casting-net in great numbers.
Bean, ’Bog, or Bf.an, Buck. See Menyanthes.
Bean, Caper. See Zygophyllum .
Bean-cod, a small fishing-vessel, or pilot-boat, common onthe sea-coasts and in the rivers of Portugal .
BEANE, a river in Hertfordshire .
Bf.an Goose, in ornithology. See Anas.
Bean, Kidney , in botany. See Phaseolus.
Be'an, Kidney, Tree. See Glycine. ■
Bean 'Free. See Corallodkndron.
Bean Tree, Binding. See Mimosa.
BEAU, in astronomy. See Ursa.
Bear, in zoology. See Ursus.
Bear, Order ok the, was a military order in Switzerland ,erected by the Emperor Frederick II. in 1213, by way of ac-knowledgment for the service the Swiss had done him, ami in fa-vour of the abbey of St. Gaul. To the collar of the order luinga medal, on which was represented a bear raised on an eminenceqf earth.
Bear ’s Flesh was much esteemed by the ancients: even atthis day, the paw of a bear suited and smoked is served up at thetables of princes.
Bear ’s Grease was formerly esteemed a sovereign remedyagainst cold disorders, especially rheumatisms. It is now muchused in dressing ladies and gentlemen’s hair.
Bear ’s Skin affords a fur in great esteem, and on which de»pends a considerable article of commerce, being used in housings,on coach-boxes, Sec. Of the skins of bears’ cubs are made gloves,muffs, and the like.
To Bear a Body. A colour is said to bear a body in paint-ing, when it is capable of being ground so fine, and mixing wilhthe. oil so entirely, as to seem only a very thick oil of the samecolour.
BEARD, the hair growing on the chin and adjacent parts ofthe face of male adults. 'Pile customs of most nations, respectingthe beard, have been various. 'The ancients have spoken honour-ably of long beards which the Chinese and Indian philosophersconsider as inestimable. Opposite opinions concerning the beardhave given rise to long and bloody wars. Among the Turks it ismore infamous for a man to have his beard cut off, than in othercountries to be publicly whipped, or exposed in the pillory.
Bearls, in entomology, are two small, oblong, fleshy bodies,placed just above the trunk, as in the gnats, and in the moths andbutterflies.
Beards of Comets . These rays which a comet emits towardsthat part of the heaven to which its proper motion seems to liedirected, are styled its beard ; and are distinguished from the tail,which is understood of the rays emitted towards that part fromwhence its motion seems to carry it.
Beards of Horses. The part underneath the lower mandibleon the outside and above the chin, which bears the curb, is calledthe beard or chuck.
Beards of Muscles, Oysters, Sec. denote assemblages ofthreads or hairs, by which those animals fasten themselves tostones.
BEARERS, in heraldry, or supporters, are certain figures,standing on the scroll, and placed by the side of an escutcheon,which they seem to support or bear up. They are, chiefly,figures of beasts: figures of human creatures, used for the likepurpose, are more properly called tenants.
Bearers, in horticulture, denote the fruit branches, or such asbear fruit.
Bearers of a Bill of Exchange, denote the persons inwhose hands it is, and in favour of. \thotn the last order or indorse-
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