beater n For senses 1 and 2 Kilkenny Lexicon ~ 'a bold, aggressive individual,' DC ~ n Nfld (1924-). See also BEAT v 1.
   1 A harp seal just past the 'white-coat' stage and migrating north from the breeding grounds on the ice floes off Newfoundland; DIPPER. Also attrib beater hunt, ~ pelt [see PELT n], ~ seal.
   1893 Trade Review Christmas No 13 There was not a drop of water to be seen as far as the eye could reach—nothing but a solid jamb of ice, which was covered with seals, known as 'beaters,' in thousands. 1924 ENGLAND 102 As they start migrating, they are called 'baters,' i.e. beaters. 'Quinters' is another name for the beating seals. 1933 GREENE 78-9 The young seals ... now begin naturally and fearlessly to take to swimming and diving ... and learning without instruction all other sea-necessities of a full seal-life... Now they become 'beaters' of the Seal Hunt, and of a certain surety every little head will then be pointed for the North. 1947 TANNER 493 By the end of May these 'beating seals' have mostly passed along the Labrador coast. The next winter the 'beater seals' return south again as 'bed-lamers.' T 43/4-64 After they loses the white coat they're called beaters because they spends all their time in the water. 1976 Evening Telegram 3 Apr, p. 6 That is the importance of the late spring 'beater' hunt to the landsmen along much of our northeast coast. Seals which are taken by these hunters ... have by this time doubled their weight and value. 1978 ibid 10 Mar, p. 1 By the time the vessels reach the whitecoats the seals may have matured to beaters, seals 18 days of age and older and capable of taking to the water. Ibid 9 May, p. 2 This year ... the company didn't receive too many beater pelts.
   2 A loose woman; a tramp; cp PATH-BEATER.
   1925 Dial Notes v, 340 ~ Vagabond; tramp. 1937 DEVINE 9 ~ A dissolute woman.
   3 The final winning hand (in a game).
   1977 RUSSELL 69 Then Skipper Joe and myself played the best two out of three at cribbage, and for all his luck, I won the beater.

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