beam-ends

English

Noun

beam-ends pl (plural only)

(nautical) The ends of the transverse beams of a ship.
- 1840, R[ichard] H[enry] D[ana], Jr., “CHAPTER XXXV”, in Two Years before the Mast. […] (Harper’s Family Library; no. CVI), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers […], →OCLC:
  The ship is lying over half upon her beam-ends; lee scuppers under water, and forecastle all in a smother of foam.

Usage notes

A ship is on her beam-ends when she has heeled over such that the beams are vertical and she cannot be brought back to an upright position.

See also

on one's beam ends

Anagrams

beadsmen, bedesman

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