[f. prec. sb.] See also BASTE v.4
† 1. trans. To make a beast of, treat as a beast.
1646. S. Bolton, Arraignm. Err., 151. And having thus beasted men, they [Papists] say to them … ‘You are … in no way able to judge of Questions of truth.’
2. passive. In the game of Ombre: To fail to win the game (said of the Ombre), or to incur a forfeit for breaking the rules.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I. v. We will not be beasted at this bout, for I have got one trick.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull, in Swift’s Wks., 1824, VI. 163. Lewis Baboon attempted to play a game solo in clubs, and was beasted.
1768. Acad. of Play, 83. He who looks at the cards that remain in the Stock is beasted.
1811. [E. Nares], Thinks-I-to-Myself (ed. 4), II. 136. Not being able to save her from being beasted.
[Beast v. ‘To hunt for beasts,’ which modern dictionaries have inserted each from its predecessor, is a figment founded on a grotesque misreading of Spenser’s Amoretti, Epigr. ii.:
With that [i.e., Dian’s dart] Love wounded my Loves hart, But Diane [wounded] beasts with Cupids dart.]
