beach
UK[biːtʃ]US[biːtʃ]
n
an area of sand or small stones beside the sea or a lake
v
to pull or force a boat or ship onto the shore
Etymology
the word 'beach' has a somewhat obscure etymological path. it likely entered modern english from middle english terms referring to a stream or the shingle found beside one, suggesting its original sense was tied to water-worn pebbles rather than a sandy shore. its possible connection to the old english word for a brook, 'bece', indicates a semantic shift from the watercourse itself to the landform it creates. over time, the meaning broadened and specialized to denote the sandy or pebbly shore of any substantial body of water, particularly the sea, solidifying its modern definition.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form. it is a loanword from middle english 'beche' or 'bache', meaning a stream or the pebbly shore by a stream, of uncertain origin but likely related to old english 'bece' (stream, brook).
Examples
the children spent the afternoon building sandcastles on the beach.
we decided to beach the canoe on the small island to have our lunch.
the hotel is located right on the beach, with stunning views of the ocean.