'Beam compass' definitions:

Definition of 'Beam compass'

From: GCIDE
  • Beam \Beam\ (b[=e]m), n. [AS. be['a]m beam, post, tree, ray of light; akin to OFries. b[=a]m tree, OS. b[=o]m, D. boom, OHG. boum, poum, G. baum, Icel. ba[eth]mr, Goth. bagms and Gr. fy^ma a growth, fy^nai to become, to be. Cf. L. radius staff, rod, spoke of a wheel, beam or ray, and G. strahl arrow, spoke of a wheel, ray or beam, flash of lightning. [root]97. See Be; cf. Boom a spar.]
  • 1. Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship. [1913 Webster]
  • The beams of a vessel are strong pieces of timber stretching across from side to side to support the decks. --Totten. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended. [1913 Webster]
  • The doubtful beam long nods from side to side. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. The pole of a carriage. [Poetic] --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. The straight part or shank of an anchor. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 11. A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat. [1913 Webster]
  • How far that little candle throws his beams! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 12. (Fig.): A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort. [1913 Webster]
  • Mercy with her genial beam. --Keble. [1913 Webster]
  • 13. One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; -- called also beam feather. [1913 Webster]
  • 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 angles 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. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Beam compass'

From: GCIDE
  • Compass \Com"pass\ (k[u^]m"pas), n. [F. compas, fr. LL. compassus circle, prop., a stepping together; com- + passus pace, step. See Pace, Pass.]
  • 1. A passing round; circuit; circuitous course. [1913 Webster]
  • They fetched a compass of seven day's journey. --2 Kings iii. 9. [1913 Webster]
  • This day I breathed first; time is come round, And where I did begin, there shall I end; My life is run his compass. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the compass of an encircling wall. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. An inclosed space; an area; extent. [1913 Webster]
  • Their wisdom . . . lies in a very narrow compass. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of his eye; the compass of imagination. [1913 Webster]
  • The compass of his argument. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; -- used with within. [1913 Webster]
  • In two hundred years before (I speak within compass), no such commission had been executed. --Sir J. Davies. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Mus.) The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity of a voice or instrument. [1913 Webster]
  • You would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. An instrument for determining directions upon the earth's surface by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot and pointing in a northerly and southerly direction. [1913 Webster]
  • He that first discovered the use of the compass did more for the supplying and increase of useful commodities than those who built workhouses. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. A pair of compasses. [R.] See Compasses.
  • To fix one foot of their compass wherever they please. --Swift. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. A circle; a continent. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • The tryne compas [the threefold world containing earth, sea, and heaven. --Skeat.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • Azimuth compass. See under Azimuth.
  • Beam compass. See under Beam.
  • Compass card, the circular card attached to the needles of a mariner's compass, on which are marked the thirty-two points or rhumbs.
  • Compass dial, a small pocket compass fitted with a sundial to tell the hour of the day.
  • Compass plane (Carp.), a plane, convex in the direction of its length on the under side, for smoothing the concave faces of curved woodwork.
  • Compass plant, Compass flower (Bot.), a plant of the American prairies (Silphium laciniatum), not unlike a small sunflower; rosinweed. Its lower and root leaves are vertical, and on the prairies are disposed to present their edges north and south. [1913 Webster]
  • Its leaves are turned to the north as true as the magnet: This is the compass flower. --Longefellow.
  • Compass saw, a saw with a narrow blade, which will cut in a curve; -- called also fret saw and keyhole saw.
  • Compass timber (Shipbuilding), curved or crooked timber.
  • Compass window (Arch.), a circular bay window or oriel window.
  • Mariner's compass, a kind of compass used in navigation. It has two or more magnetic needles permanently attached to a card, which moves freely upon a pivot, and is read with reference to a mark on the box representing the ship's head. The card is divided into thirty-two points, called also rhumbs, and the glass-covered box or bowl containing it is suspended in gimbals within the binnacle, in order to preserve its horizontal position.
  • Surveyor's compass, an instrument used in surveying for measuring horizontal angles. See Circumferentor.
  • Variation compass, a compass of delicate construction, used in observations on the variations of the needle.
  • To fetch a compass, to make a circuit. [1913 Webster]