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Ham vs Beacon - What's the difference?

ham | beacon |

As nouns the difference between ham and beacon

is that ham is haem / heme while beacon is a signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.

As a verb beacon is

to act as a beacon.

ham

English

(wikipedia ham)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) hamme, from (etyl) . Compare gammon.

Noun

(en noun)
  • (anatomy) The region back of the knee joint; the popliteal space; the hock.
  • (countable) A thigh and buttock of an animal slaughtered for meat.
  • (uncountable) Meat from the thigh of a hog cured for food.
    • a little piece of ham for the cat
  • * (rfdate), Audra Lilly Griffeth, A King's Daughter (ISBN 146915532X):
    • She put some ham in the beans and cut up some sweet potatoes to boil.
  • The back of the thigh.
  • (internet, informal) Electronic mail that is wanted; mail that is not spam or junk mail.
    • Derived terms
    * ham-fisted * hambone * hammy, hamstring

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (-)

    • Usage notes

    * Persists in many old place names, such as (Buckingham).

    References

    *

    Etymology 3

    Shortened from , said to derive from the 1863 minstrel show song The Ham-fat Man . "ham", Online Etymology Dictionary

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An overacting or amateurish performer; an actor with an especially showy or exaggerated style.
  • An amateur radio operator.
    • Related terms
    * ham radio
    Synonyms
    * radio amateur (amateur radio operator)

    Verb

  • To overact; to act with exaggerated emotions.
    • Related terms
    * ham it up

    Anagrams

    *

    References

    English terms with multiple etymologies ----

    beacon

    English

    (wikipedia beacon)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.
  • * Gay
    • No flaming beacons cast their blaze afar.
  • (nautical) A signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners.
  • :* A post or buoy placed over a shoal or bank to warn vessels of danger; also a signal mark on land. (FM 55-501).
  • A high hill or other easily distinguishable object near the shore which can serve as guidance for seafarers.
  • That which gives notice of danger.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Modest doubt is called / The beacon of the wise.

    Derived terms

    * aerobeacon * day beacon * radio beacon * web beacon

    See also

    * cairn * leading mark * navigation aid * navigation mark * radar reflector * sea mark, seamark

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To act as a beacon.
  • To give light to, as a beacon; to light up; to illumine.
    • That beacons the darkness of heaven. — Campbell.
  • To furnish with a beacon or beacons.