(v. t.) To give the signal for, by beat of drum; to sound by beat of drum; as, to beat an alarm, a charge, a parley, a retreat; to beat the general, the reveille, the tattoo. See Alarm, Charge, Parley, etc.
BEAT (11)
Meaning of BEAT (11) in English
Webster's English dictionary. Английский словарь Webster. 2012