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.
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 F. ferruginea that of
America.
Beech drops (Bot.), a parasitic plant which grows on the
roots of beeches (Epiphegus Americana).
Beech marten (Zo["o]l.), 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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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