Middle English Dictionary Entry
bēken v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | bēken v.(2) Also bekie, beaki. P. biked. |
| Etymology | OF bequer, var. of bechier; ME biked is blended with bikeren attack. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To strike (sth.) with the beak, peck; (b) to strike with a pointed weapon; (c) of a hawk: to cleanse (itself) with the beak; (d) ~ out, to thrust out the beak; fig. to stick out one's nose.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)21b : Þe bacbitere cheoweð monnes flesch..& beakeð [Nero: bekeð] wið his blake bile..as þe þet is þes deofles corbin of helle.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)32b : Do as deð þe pellican, ofþunche hit swiðe sone & wið hire ahne bile beaki [Nero: bekie] hire breoste.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)5202 : A paiem smot to Agreuein..þat he fel on his hors nek; Him to heueden he gan to bek.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)2321 : Þe þridde Gildas faste biked [rime: styked].
c
- a1475 *Hrl.Diseases Hawk A (Hrl 2340)24b : And whan sche hath cast, latt hyr stand in þe sonne A whyle þat sche may proyne hir & beke hir & bew hir.
d
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)26b : Hweðer ei totilde ancre fondede eauer þis, þe beakeð [Nero: bekeð] eauer utward as untohe brid i cage?..To wraðer heale beakede eauer swa ut ancre.