in a general signification, signifies to chastise, strike, knock, or vanquish.

This word has several other significations in the manufactures, and in the arts and trades. Sometimes it signifies to forge and hammer, in which sense smiths and farriers say, to beat iron. Sometimes it means to pound, to reduce into powder: Thus we say, to beat drugs, to beat pepper, to beat spices; that is to say, to pulverize them.

Beat of Drum, in the military art, is to give notice by beat of drum of sudden danger; or, that scattered soldiers may repair to their arms and quarters, is to beat an alarm, or to arms. Also, to signify, by different manners of sounding a drum, that the soldiers are to fall on the enemy; to retreat before, in, or after, an attack; to move, or march, from one place to another; to permit the soldiers to come out of their quarters at break of day; to order to repair to their colours, &c.; is to beat a charge, a retreat, a march, &c.

Beat (St), a town of France, in the county of Comminges, at the confluence of the Garonne and the Pique. It is seated between two mountains which are close to the town on each side. All the houses are built with marble, because they have no other materials. W. Long. i. 6. N. Lat. 42. 50.