among weavers, a long thick wooden cylinder, placed lengthwise on the back part of the loom of those who work with a shuttle. That cylinder on which the stuff is rolled as it is woven is also called the *beam* or *roller*, and is placed on the fore-part of the loom.

**Beams of a Ship** are the great main cross-timbers which hold the sides of the ship from falling together, and also support the deck and the orlops. The main beam is next the main-mast, and from it they are successively reckoned as first, second, third, and so on. The greatest beam of all is called the *midship beam*.

**Beam-Compass**, an instrument consisting of a square wooden or brass beam, having sliding sockets that carry steel or pencil points. Beam-compasses are used for describing large circles, where the common compasses are useless.