tip so far to the side as to be in
danger of overturning.
v. said of a
ship, to
turn so far over on its side that it is in
imminent danger of capsizing.
Beams are the strong, horizontal timbers or pieces of metal that support the deck and
hold the sides of a
ship in
place. They are arranged crosswise in the
ship and the deck (which
runs lengthwise) is fastened to them. When a
ship is "on its
beam-
ends" or if it "
beam-
ends," it has turned so far over that it is laying on one of its sides. In this
position, the
beams of the
ship have gone from their usual horizontal
position to a vertical or nearly vertical
position, and the
ends of the
beams are pointing into the
sea. When this happens, a
ship may capsize easily.