- the ends of the transverse deck beams of a vessel.
- heeled so far on one side that the deck is practically vertical: The schooner was blown over on her beam-ends.
- in desperate straits, especially financial straits.
- the ends of a vessel's beams
- (of a vessel) heeled over through an angle of 90°
- on one's beam-ends
- out of resources; destitute
- desperate
