v. to strike, in the following phrases:

beat around the bush [cf. US idiom and BUSH forest] phr. to live a hand-to-mouth existence with no fixed address. (Nassau)

beat books [cf. OED beat to labour at obs. 1659] phr. to study hard: He beat books too much—he don't play (Nassau).

beat bush [cf. BUSH 4] phr. to crush or pound medicinal plants for use in BUSH MEDICINE: I know one bush Mama use to beat if we ha pain in we belly. (Cat)

beat out phr. to launder clothes by pounding them on rocks in a pond: They gone to the pond —had some clothes to beat out. (Acklins)

beat your skin [cf. US idiom tan your hide, same meaning, and SKIN body] phr. to beat someone up: He go beat you skin well and good. (Black)