Beast royal

Beast Beast (b[=e]st), n. [OE. best, beste, OF. beste, F. b[^e]te, fr. L. bestia.] 1. Any living creature; an animal; -- including man, insects, etc. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

2. Any four-footed animal, that may be used for labor, food, or sport; as, a beast of burden. [1913 Webster]

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast. --Prov. xii. 10. [1913 Webster]

3. any animal other than a human; -- opposed to {man}. [1913 Webster]

'Tain't a fit night out for man nor beast. --W. C. Fields. [1913 Webster]

4. Fig.: A coarse, brutal, filthy, or degraded fellow. [1913 Webster]

5. A game at cards similar to loo. [Obs.] --Wright. [1913 Webster]

6. A penalty at beast, omber, etc. Hence: To be beasted, to be beaten at beast, omber, etc. [1913 Webster]

{Beast royal}, the lion. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Syn: {Beast}, {Brute}.

Usage: When we use these words in a figurative sense, as applicable to human beings, we think of beasts as mere animals governed by animal appetite; and of brutes as being destitute of reason or moral feeling, and governed by unrestrained passion. Hence we speak of beastly appetites; beastly indulgences, etc.; and of brutal manners; brutal inhumanity; brutal ferocity. So, also, we say of a drunkard, that he first made himself a beast, and then treated his family like a brute. [1913 Webster]