Walking \Walk"ing\,
   a. & n. from Walk, v.
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   Walking beam. See Beam, 10.

   Walking crane, a kind of traveling crane. See under
      Crane.

   Walking fern. (Bot.) See Walking leaf, below.

   Walking fish (Zool.), any one of numerous species of
      Asiatic fishes of the genus Ophiocephalus, some of
      which, as Ophiocephalus marulius, become over four feet
      long. They have a special cavity over the gills lined with
      a membrane adapted to retain moisture to aid in
      respiration, and are thus able to travel considerable
      distances over the land at night, whence the name. They
      construct a curious nest for their young. Called also
      langya.

   Walking gentleman (Theater), an actor who usually fills
      subordinate parts which require a gentlemanly appearance
      but few words. [Cant]

   Walking lady (Theater), an actress who usually fills such
      parts as require only a ladylike appearance on the stage.
      [Cant]

   Walking leaf.
   (a) (Bot.) A little American fern (Camptosorus
       rhizophyllus); -- so called because the fronds taper
       into slender prolongations which often root at the apex,
       thus producing new plants.
   (b) (Zool.) A leaf insect. See under Leaf.

   Walking papers, or Walking ticket, an order to leave;
      dismissal, as from office; as, to get one's walking
      papers, i. e. to be dismissed or fired. [Colloq.]
      --Bartlett.

   Walking stick.
   (a) A stick or staff carried in the hand for hand for support
       or amusement when walking; a cane.
   (b) (Zool.) A stick insect; -- called also walking straw.
       See Illust. of Stick insect, under Stick.

   Walking wheel (Mach.), a prime mover consisting of a wheel
      driven by the weight of men or animals walking either in
      it or on it; a treadwheel.
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Beam \Beam\ (b[=e]m), n. [AS. be['a]m beam, post, tree, ray of
   light; akin to OFries. b[=a]m tree, OS. b[=o]m, D. boom, OHG.
   boum, poum, G. baum, Icel. ba[eth]mr, Goth. bagms and Gr.
   fy^ma a growth, fy^nai to become, to be. Cf. L. radius staff,
   rod, spoke of a wheel, beam or ray, and G. strahl arrow,
   spoke of a wheel, ray or beam, flash of lightning. [root]97.
   See Be; cf. Boom a spar.]
   1. Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to
      its thickness, and prepared for use.
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   2. One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or
      ship.
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            The beams of a vessel are strong pieces of timber
            stretching across from side to side to support the
            decks.                                --Totten.
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   3. The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more
      beam than another.
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   4. The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales
      are suspended.
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            The doubtful beam long nods from side to side.
                                                  --Pope.
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   5. The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which
      bears the antlers, or branches.
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   6. The pole of a carriage. [Poetic] --Dryden.
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   7. A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which
      weavers wind the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder
      on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being
      called the fore beam, the other the back beam.
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   8. The straight part or shank of an anchor.
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   9. The main part of a plow, to which the handles and colter
      are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen
      or horses that draw it.
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   10. (Steam Engine) A heavy iron lever having an oscillating
       motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected
       with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and
       the other with the crank of the wheel shaft; -- called
       also working beam or walking beam.
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   11. A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun
       or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.
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             How far that little candle throws his beams!
                                                  --Shak.
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   12. (Fig.): A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.
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             Mercy with her genial beam.          --Keble.
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   13. One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; -- called
       also beam feather.
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   Abaft the beam (Naut.), in an arc of the horizon between a
      line that crosses the ship at right angles, or in the
      direction of her beams, and that point of the compass
      toward which her stern is directed.

   Beam center (Mach.), the fulcrum or pin on which the
      working beam of an engine vibrates.

   Beam compass, an instrument consisting of a rod or beam,
      having sliding sockets that carry steel or pencil points;
      -- used for drawing or describing large circles.

   Beam engine, a steam engine having a working beam to
      transmit power, in distinction from one which has its
      piston rod attached directly to the crank of the wheel
      shaft.

   Before the beam (Naut.), in an arc of the horizon included
      between a line that crosses the ship at right angles and
      that point of the compass toward which the ship steers.

   On the beam, in a line with the beams, or at right angles
      with the keel.

   On the weather beam, on the side of a ship which faces the
      wind.

   To be on her beam ends, to incline, as a vessel, so much on
      one side that her beams approach a vertical position.
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