breast-beam
(ˈbrɛstbiːm)
1. Naut. One of the beams at the fore-part of the quarter-deck and round-house, and after-part of the forecastle.
| 1850 Rudim. Navig. (Weale) 95. |
2. Weaving. The horizontal wooden beam in the front of a loom.
| 1790 A. Wilson Groans fr. Loom, While a bad web was his theme, The breast-beam supported his head. 1875 Ure Dict. Arts III. 1114 The breast beam..is supported at its end upon brackets. |
3. The front cross-beam of the frame of a locomotive.