catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Bead \Bead\ (b[=e]d), n. [OE. bede prayer, prayer bead, AS. bed,
     gebed, prayer; akin to D. bede, G. bitte, AS. biddan, to ask,
     bid, G. bitten to ask, and perh. to Gr. pei`qein to persuade,
     L. fidere to trust. Beads are used by the Roman Catholics to
     count their prayers, one bead being dropped down a string
     every time a prayer is said. Cf. Sp. cuenta bead, fr. contar
     to count. See Bid, in to bid beads, and Bide.]
     1. A prayer. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A little perforated ball, to be strung on a thread, and
        worn for ornament; or used in a rosary for counting
        prayers, as by Roman Catholics and Mohammedans, whence the
        phrases to tell beads,
  
     to be at one's beads,
  
     to bid beads, etc., meaning, to be at prayer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Any small globular body; as,
        (a) A bubble in spirits.
        (b) A drop of sweat or other liquid. ``Cold beads of
            midnight dew.'' --Wordsworth.
        (c) A small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking
            aim (whence the expression to draw a bead, for, to
            take aim).
        (d) (Arch.) A small molding of rounded surface, the
            section being usually an arc of a circle. It may be
            continuous, or broken into short embossments.
        (e) (Chem.) A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or
            microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for
            several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron,
            manganese, etc., before the blowpipe; as, the borax
            bead; the iron bead, etc.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     Bead and butt (Carp.), framing in which the panels are
        flush, having beads stuck or run upon the two edges.
        --Knight.
  
     Bead mold, a species of fungus or mold, the stems of which
        consist of single cells loosely jointed together so as to
        resemble a string of beads. [Written also bead mould.]
        
  
     Bead tool, a cutting tool, having an edge curved so as to
        make beads or beading.
  
     Bead tree (Bot.), a tree of the genus Melia, the best
        known species of which ({Melia azedarach), has blue
        flowers which are very fragrant, and berries which are
        poisonous.
        [1913 Webster]

  Bead \Bead\, n. [OE. bede prayer, prayer bead, AS. bed, gebed,
     prayer; akin to D. bede, G. bitte, AS. biddan, to ask, bid,
     G. bitten to ask, and perh. to Gr. ? to persuade, L. fidere
     to trust. Beads are used by the Roman Catholics to count
     their prayers, one bead being dropped down a string every
     time a prayer is said. Cf. Sp. cuenta bead, fr. contar to
     count. See Bid, in to bid beads, and Bide.]
     1. A prayer. [Obs.]
  
     2. A little perforated ball, to be strung on a thread, and
        worn for ornament; or used in a rosary for counting
        prayers, as by Roman Catholics and Mohammedans, whence the
        phrases to tell beads, to at one's beads, to bid beads,
        etc., meaning, to be at prayer.
  
     3. Any small globular body; as,
        (a) A bubble in spirits.
        (b) A drop of sweat or other liquid. ``Cold beads of
            midnight dew.'' --Wordsworth.
        (c) A small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking
            aim (whence the expression to draw a bead, for, to
            take aim).
        (d) (Arch.) A small molding of rounded surface, the
            section being usually an arc of a circle. It may be
            continuous, or broken into short embossments.
        (e) (Chem.) A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or
            microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for
            several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron,
            manganese, etc., before the blowpipe; as, the borax
            bead; the iron bead, etc.
  
     Bead and butt (Carp.), framing in which the panels are
        flush, having beads stuck or run upon the two edges.
        --Knight.
  
     Beat mold, a species of fungus or mold, the stems of which
        consist of single cells loosely jointed together so as to
        resemble a string of beads. [Written also bead mould.]
        
  
     Bead tool, a cutting tool, having an edge curved so as to
        make beads or beading.
  
     Bead tree (Bot.), a tree of the genus Melia, the best
        known species of which ({M. azedarach), has blue flowers
        which are very fragrant, and berries which are poisonous.