'Beast royal' definitions:

Definition of 'Beast royal'

From: GCIDE
  • Beast \Beast\ (b[=e]st), n. [OE. best, beste, OF. beste, F. b[^e]te, fr. L. bestia.]
  • 1. Any living creature; an animal; -- including man, insects, etc. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Any four-footed animal, that may be used for labor, food, or sport; as, a beast of burden. [1913 Webster]
  • A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast. --Prov. xii. 10. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. any animal other than a human; -- opposed to man. [1913 Webster]
  • 'Tain't a fit night out for man nor beast. --W. C. Fields. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Fig.: A coarse, brutal, filthy, or degraded fellow. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. A game at cards similar to loo. [Obs.] --Wright. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. A penalty at beast, omber, etc. Hence: To be beasted, to be beaten at beast, omber, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • Beast royal, the lion. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Beast, Brute.
  • Usage: When we use these words in a figurative sense, as applicable to human beings, we think of beasts as mere animals governed by animal appetite; and of brutes as being destitute of reason or moral feeling, and governed by unrestrained passion. Hence we speak of beastly appetites; beastly indulgences, etc.; and of brutal manners; brutal inhumanity; brutal ferocity. So, also, we say of a drunkard, that he first made himself a beast, and then treated his family like a brute. [1913 Webster]