Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A prayer. 2. (n.) A little perforated ball, to be strung on a thread, and worn for ornament; or used in a rosary for counting prayers, as by Roman Catholics and Mohammedans, whence the phrases to tell beads, to at one's beads, to bid beads, etc., meaning, to be at prayer. 3. (n.) Any small globular body 4. (n.) A bubble in spirits. 5. (n.) A drop of sweat or other liquid. 6. (n.) A small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking aim (whence the expression to draw a bead, for, to take aim). 7. (n.) A small molding of rounded surface, the section being usually an arc of a circle. It may be continuous, or broken into short embossments. 8. (n.) A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron, manganese, etc., before the blowpipe; as, the borax bead; the iron bead, etc. 9. (v. t.) To ornament with beads or beading. 10. (v. i.) To form beadlike bubbles.

Multi-Version Concordance Bead (2 Occurrences) Numbers 31:50 and we bring near Jehovah's offering, each that which he hath found, vessels of gold -- chain, and bracelet, seal-ring, 'ear'-ring, and bead -- to make atonement for ourselves before Jehovah.' (YLT RSV) Song of Songs 4:9 Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my bride; Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, With one chain of thy neck. (See JPS)