▪ I. beck, n.1
(bɛk)
Forms: 3 becc, 5–6 bek, 6–7 becke, 7 beke, 5– beck.
[a. ON. bekk-r (Du. bæk, Sw. bäck), brook, rivulet:—OTeut. *bakki-z masc.; cognate with *baki-z, whence OE. bęce masc., OS. bęki, MDu. bēke, Du. beek fem., and OHG. bah, mod.G. bach masc., also fem. provincially. Gothic preserves no form of this word, which is also unknown beyond Teutonic.]
1. A brook or stream: the ordinary name in those parts of England from Lincolnshire to Cumbria which were occupied by the Danes and Norwegians; hence, often used spec. in literature to connote a brook with stony bed, or rugged course, such as are those of the north country.
| a 1300 Cursor M. (Gött.) 8946 Made a brig, Ouer a littel becc [Cott. burn, Trin. ryuere] to lig. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 29 Bek watyr, rendylle, riuulus, torrens. 1481 in Ripon Ch. Acts 341 Markington beck. 1538 Leland Itin. I. 70 There cummith a very little Bek thorough the Toun of Northalverton..communely callid Sunnebek. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 722 Wandering beckes [printed beakes] and violent swift brookes. 1630 Sanderson Serm. II. 276 Shallowest becks run with the greatest noise. 1691 Ray N. Countr. Wds. 131 A Beck, a Rivulet or small Brook. 1795 Southey Joan of Arc i. 235, I have laid me down..and watch'd The beck roll glittering to the noon⁓tide sun. 1872 Black Adv. Phaeton xxvii. 369 Each gorge and valley has its beck. |
2. The valley-bottom through which a beck flows: cf. bache.
| 1641 Best Farm. Books (1856) 28 Keepe them [sheep] togeather in some well fenced place, as the Bricke close..the Newe Intacke in the towne becke. |
▪ II. beck, n.2
(bɛk)
Forms: 4–6 bek, 5 beke, 5–7 becke, 6 bekke, 4– beck.
[f. beck v.]
1. A mute signal or significant gesture, especially one indicating assent or notifying a command; e.g. a nod, a motion of the hand or fore-finger, etc.
| 1382 Wyclif Job xxvi. 11 The pileris of heuene..quaken at his bek. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. xlviii. (1495) 809 Thyse ben acounted tonglesse: and vse signes and beckes in stede of spekynge. 1486 Bk. St. Albans D j. 1502 Arnold Chron. (1811) 161 They w{supt} a bek on thinge wyl afferme, and the same streit wyl denye. 1598 Yong Diana 162 Giuing a becke with his head to his Shepherdesse in token of thanks. 1635 Quarles Embl. i. xiii. (1718) 54 If pleasure beckon with her balmy hand, Her beck's a strong command. 1728 De Foe Syst. Magick i. vii. 204 With a beck of the head or hand, as we beckon to servants. 1862 Trench Mirac. xxxii. 452 Armies of heaven..whom a beck from Him would bring forth. |
2. Hence, The slightest indication of will or command, and transf. absolute order or control; esp. in phrases to have at one's beck, to hang upon the beck of, to be at the beck and call of.
| a 1470 Tiptoft Cæsar iii. (1530) 4 It should be ready at a beck. 1587 Myrr. Mag., G. Cordila xxv, I had the Britaynes at what becke I wou'd. 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. 117 Bound to your Holinesse, and wholly hanging upon your becke. 1642 Rogers Naaman 229 His conversion brought the whole Towne into order under Gods becke. 1750 Johnson Rambl. No. 74 ¶7 He..expects to find the world rolling at his beck. 1875 M{supc}Laren Serm. 65 Christ's love is not at the beck and call of our fluctuating affections. |
3. A gesture expressive of salutation or respect; an inclination of the head; an obeisance, a bow, a curtsey, a nod. Chiefly Sc.
| c 1375 Wyclif Antecrist 149 Ne wiþ beckus, ne wiþ dugardes, as ypocritis usen. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 29 Bek, or lowte, conquiniscio. c 1450 Henryson Mor. Fab. 24 Welcome..(Quod hee) with many bing and many becke. 1538 Bale Thre Lawes 1470 As good is a becke, as is a dewe vow garde. 1557 Surrey in Tottell's Misc. (Arb.) 218 With a beck full low he bowed at her feete. c 1633 Milton L'Allegro 28 Nods and Becks and wreathed Smiles. 1724 Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. (1733) II. 138 She right courteously Return'd a beck. c 1817 Hogg Tales & Sk. III. 267 Ellen came into the parlour with a beck as quick and as low as that made by the water ouzel. 1863 Geo. Eliot Romola (1880) I. i. vi. 84 He retreated with a bow to Romola and a beck to Tito. |
▪ III. beck, n.3 dial.
(bɛk)
[In OE. becca; cf. Pr. beca hook, perh. from Celtic root bacc-, cf. Ir. bacc, bac (masc.) ‘hook, crook.’]
An agricultural implement with two hooks, for dressing turnips, hops, etc.; a kind of mattock.
| c 1000 ælfric Gloss. in Wülcker Voc. /106 Ligo, becca. 1875 Parish Sussex Dial., Beck, a mattock. 1884 West Sussex Gaz. 25 Sept. Turnip cutters, fold bars, becks. |
▪ IV. beck, n.4
(bɛk)
[? corruption of back n.2; but cf. Du. bekken, G. becken, basin.]
A large shallow vessel or tub, used in brewing, dyeing, etc.
| 1828 Hull Rockingham 14 June 84/2 Three large guile tubs, several mash tubs and under becks. |
▪ V. beck, v.
(bɛk)
Forms: 3–7 becke, 4–6 bekke, bek, 6 beake, (7 Sc. baik), 5– beck.
[shortened form of beckon v. (in ME. becni-en, bekn-en, beken-en), the -en of the stem beken- being apparently taken as the infinitive ending, whence an assumed stem bek-; the Promp. Parv. has both bekn-yn and bek-yn ‘annuto’; cf. open, ope, etc.]
1. intr. To make a mute signal, or significant gesture, as by nodding, shaking the fore-finger, etc.
| a 1300 E.E. Psalter xxxiv. 19 Whilk þat hates me wilfulli, And beckes with þair eghen lesli. c 1386 Chaucer Manciple's T. 346 Spek nat, but with thyn heed thou bekke. c 1460 Towneley M. 319. 1548 Hall Chron. (1809) 703 At the whiche wise menne becked and lyht men laughed, thynkyng great foly in his high presumpcion. 1625 K. Long Barclay's Argenis i. ix. 22 Secretly becking and winking on the Maids, she bade them speake softlier. 1884 Woolner Silenus, Our sweetest hopes That ever beck with smiles of welcoming. |
b. trans. To express by a beck.
| 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. II. 72 While turning nods beck thanks for kindness done. |
2. trans. (obj. orig. dative.) To make a mute signal to (a person, to approach); to beckon.
| 1486 Bk. St. Albans A j b, With yowre hande or with yowre tabur styke, becke yowre hawke to come to you. 1595 Shakes. John iii. iii. 13 When gold and siluer becks me to come on. 1629 Gaule Pract. The. 305 Hee [Christ] bowes his Head; as though hee would becke us towards him. 1839 Bailey Festus (1848) 40/2 The star Which beams and becks the spirit from afar. |
3. intr. To make a sign of recognition, respect, or obeisance; to nod, make a slight bow; to curtsey. (Chiefly in Sc. writers.)
| 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 575 And call him schir, bek⁓kand with bayth his kneis. 1571 T. Fortescue Forest Pref., Verses, Beake, then, and bowe thee lowe. 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 50 She laighly baiking made her honour. 1712 Arbuthnot John Bull (1755) 51, I mun stand becking and binging. 1877 H. Page De Quincey I. viii. 156 Two philosophers becking and bowing to each other. |
▪ VI. beck, -ed, -er
obs. forms of beak, -ed, -er.