Beech

beech
    n 1: any of several large deciduous trees with rounded spreading
         crowns and smooth grey bark and small sweet edible
         triangular nuts enclosed in burs; north temperate regions
         [syn: {beech}, {beech tree}]
    2: wood of any of various beech trees; used for flooring and
       containers and plywood and tool handles [syn: {beech},
       {beechwood}]
    

Beech \Beech\, n.; pl. {Beeches}. [OE. beche, AS. b?ce; akin to
   D. beuk, OHG. buocha, G. buche, Icel. beyki, Dan. b["o]g, Sw.
   bok, Russ. buk, L. fagus, Gr. ? oak, ? to eat, Skr. bhaksh;
   the tree being named originally from the esculent fruit. See
   {Book}, and cf. 7th {Buck}, {Buckwheat}.] (Bot.)
   A tree of the genus {Fagus}.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: It grows to a large size, having a smooth bark and
         thick foliage, and bears an edible triangular nut, of
         which swine are fond. The {Fagus sylvatica} is the
         European species, and the {Fagus ferruginea} that of
         America.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Beech drops} (Bot.), a parasitic plant which grows on the
      roots of beeches ({Epiphegus Americana}).

   {Beech marten} (Zool.), the stone marten of Europe ({Mustela
      foina}).

   {Beech mast}, the nuts of the beech, esp. as they lie under
      the trees, in autumn.

   {Beech oil}, oil expressed from the mast or nuts of the beech
      tree.

   {Cooper beech}, a variety of the European beech with
      copper-colored, shining leaves.
      [1913 Webster]