beaver

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
beaver1

▶noun (pl. same or beavers)

• 1 a large semiaquatic broad-tailed rodent, noted for its habit of gnawing through trees to fell them in order to make lodges and dams. [Castor canadensis (N. America) and C. fiber (Eurasia).]

  ■ the soft light brown fur of the beaver.

  ■ (also beaver hat) chiefly historical a hat made of felted beaver fur.

  ■ (also beaver cloth) a heavy woollen cloth resembling felted beaver fur.

• 2 a very hard-working person.

• 3 (Beaver) a boy aged about 6 or 7 who is an affiliated member of the Scout Association.

▶verb (usu. beaver away) informal work hard.

– origin OE beofor, befor, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
beaver2

▶noun the lower part of the face guard of a helmet in a suit of armour.

– origin C15: from OFr. baviere ‘bib’, from baver ‘slaver’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
beaver3

▶noun

• 1 vulgar slang, chiefly N. Amer. a woman's genitals or pubic area.

• 2 Brit. informal, dated a bearded man.

– origin early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.