beal

1 of 2

intransitive verb (1)

ˈbē(ə)l
-ed/-ing/-s
now dialectal
: to swell and become infected : suppurate, fester

beal

2 of 2

intransitive verb (2)

"
-ed/-ing/-s
dialectal, England
: bellow, roar
a bull bealing

Word History

Etymology

Intransitive verb (1)

probably from obsolete English beal boil, from Middle English bele, probably variant of bile

Intransitive verb (2)

perhaps alteration of bell entry 3

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near beal

Cite this Entry

“Beal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beal. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!