Part 57 (1/2)

_To_ BEJAN, _v. a._ When a new shearer comes to a harvest-field, he is initiated by being lifted by the arms and legs, and struck down on a stone on his b.u.t.tocks; Fife. This custom has probably had its origin in some of our universities. It is sometimes called _horsing_.

BEIK, _s._ A hive of bees.

V. ~Byke~.

_To_ BEIK, BEKE, BEEK, _v. a._

1. To bask, S.

_Barbour._

2. To warm, to communicate heat to.

_Ramsay._

3. It is often used in a neuter sense, S.

_Ywaine._

Belg. _baeker-en_ is used in the same sense; _baeker-en een kindt_, to warm a child. We say, To _beik_ in the sun; so, Belg. _baekeren in de sonne_. But our word is more immediately allied to the Scandinavian dialects; Su. G. _bak-a_, to warm.

BEIK, _adj._ Warm.

_Bannatyne Poems._

BEIK, _s._

1. This word primarily signifying the beak or bill of a fowl, is ”sometimes used for a man's mouth, by way of contempt;” Rudd.

_Douglas._

2. It is used, as a cant word, for a person; ”an auld _beik_,” ”a queer _beik_,” &c. S.

Belg. _biek_, Fr. _bec_, rostrum. It may be observed that the latter is metaph. applied to a person.

V. ~Bejan~.

_To_ BEIL, BEAL, _v. n._

1. To suppurate, S.

_Maitland Poems._

2. To swell or rankle with pain, or remorse; metaph. applied to the mind, S. B.