Beam Ends : The sides of a ship. "On her beam ends" may mean the vessel is literally on her side and possibly about to capsize; more often, the phrase means the vessel is listing 45 degrees or more
Brethrencoast, Glossary of Nautical Terms - Talk like a pirate, Sylvan Dell Publishing, USA 2000. Brethren of the Coast is a non-profit site which was created solely for those interested in 'Piracy of Old' on the high seas. It is NOT associated with any organization or reinactment group by the same name. This just me personal website on the subject. http://brethrencoast.com/Glossary.html, (Mrtm - Amer) {574}