2. One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or
ship.
The beams of a vessel are strong pieces of timber
stretching across from side to side to support the
decks. --Totten.
3. The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more
beam than another.
4. The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales
are suspended.
The doubtful beam long nods from side to side.
--Pope.
5. The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which
bears the antlers, or branches.
6. The pole of a carriage. [Poetic] --Dryden.
7. A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which
weavers wind the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder
on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being
called the fore beam, the other the back beam.
8. The straight part or shank of an anchor.
9. The main part of a plow, to which the handles and colter
are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen
or horses that draw it.
10. (Steam Engine) A heavy iron lever having an oscillating
motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected
with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and
the other with the crank of the wheel shaft; -- called
also {working beam} or {walking beam}.
11. A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun
or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.
How far that little candle throws his beams !
--Shak.
12. Fig.: A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.
Mercy with her genial beam. --Keble.
13. One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; -- called
also {beam feather}.
{Abaft the beam} (Naut.), in an arc of the horizon between a
line that crosses the ship at right angles, or in the
direction of her beams, and that point of the compass
toward which her stern is directed.
{Beam center} (Mach.), the fulcrum or pin on which the
working beam of an engine vibrates.
{Beam compass}, an instrument consisting of a rod or beam,
having sliding sockets that carry steel or pencil points;
-- used for drawing or describing large circles.
{Beam engine}, a steam engine having a working beam to
transmit power, in distinction from one which has its
piston rod attached directly to the crank of the wheel
shaft.
{Before the beam} (Naut.), in an arc of the horizon included
between a line that crosses the ship at right angles and
that point of the compass toward which the ship steers.
{On the beam}, in a line with the beams, or at right angled
with the keel.
{On the weather beam}, on the side of a ship which faces the
wind.
{To be on her beam ends}, to incline, as a vessel, so much on
one side that her beams approach a vertical position.
He beamed, the daystar of the rising age. --Trumbull.