v. Obs. north. dial. found only in pa. t. and pa. pple. [It is uncertain whether the present tense would be beff, of same origin as BAFF sb.1, or beft:—Old Northumb. *beafta or *beaftia (for *behaftian, f. BE- + OE. haftian to clap, strike with the flat of the hand). The late sb. BEFF may be merely for baff, or a wrong formation on beft.]
1. intr. To strike, give blows. rare.
[c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xi. 17. We mið hondum beafton.]
c. 1505. Dunbar, Daunce, 40. Sum vpoun vdir with brandis beft.
2. trans. To beat, buffet, slap.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2264. Als þai had sare þar fra ben beft. Ibid., 15831. Wit bastons þai him beft ful grimli to þe grund.
c. 1375. ? Barbour, St. Johannes, 421. He rafe his clathis & befte his face.
c. 1505. Dunbar, Fenȝeit Friar, x. [They] Beft him with buffets quhill he bled.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, II. xi. 78. The wroth of the goddis has doun beft The citie of Troye.
