beck

1 of 3

verb

becked; becking; becks

beck

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
chiefly Scotland : bow, curtsy
2
a
: a beckoning gesture

beck

3 of 3

noun (2)

British
Phrases
at one's beck and call
: ready to obey one's command immediately

Examples of beck in a Sentence

Noun (2) when we were lads, we raced our toy boats in the narrow beck that bordered the lane
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Meanwhile, Sylvie texts a suitor under the table, for Sylvie is an icon who has handsome men in every European city at her beck and call. Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024 But Google and Everyday Robots stressed at the time that a roving butler at one’s beck and call remained far from consumer availability. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 22 Feb. 2023 Besides working the land, cooking for themselves and their overseers, and being at Jenkins' beck and call, historic preservationist Karen Nance explains that the enslaved people also built the Jenkins home, brick by brick. Doc Louallen, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2024 Although Le Majestic has everything at your beck and call, the city of Cannes is magical. Martie Bowser, Essence, 16 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for beck 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bekken, shortened from bekenen "to give a mute signal," with the n perhaps being taken as the infinitive ending — more at beckon

Noun (1)

Middle English becke, bekke "mute signal, signal of command, bow," noun derivative of bekken "to give a mute signal" — more at beck entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English bek, from Old Norse bekkr; akin to Old English bæc brook, Old High German bah, Lithuanian bėgti to flee — more at phobia

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beck was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near beck

Cite this Entry

“Beck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beck. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

beck

noun
ˈbek
: a beckoning gesture

More from Merriam-Webster on beck

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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