BEAK


Meaning of BEAK in English

/ biːk; NAmE / noun

1.

the hard pointed or curved outer part of a bird's mouth

SYN bill :

The gull held the fish in its beak.

—picture at bird

2.

( humorous ) a person's nose, especially when it is large and/or pointed

3.

( old-fashioned , BrE , slang ) a person in a position of authority, especially a judge

••

WORD ORIGIN

senses 1 to 2 Middle English : from Old French bec , from Latin beccus , of Celtic origin.

sense 3 late 18th cent.: probably from criminals' slang.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.