beef English · revision 6198

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=ine-pro *gʷṓws}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /biːf/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English bef, [[bor|xno|boef]], [[bor|fro|buef|t=ox; beef]] (modern French bœuf),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from [[la|bovem]], accusative of [[m|la|bōs|t=ox, cow]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) itself an Umbrian dialect form in Latin,^(Barnhart 1988) from PIE [[ine-pro|*gʷṓws|t=ox, bull, cow]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) It is cognate with [[grc|βοῦς|tr=boûs|t=ox]] and [[sga|bó|t=cow]], and so ultimately with native English [[cow]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The flesh of an ox, bull or cow used as food: before 1300 in the OED,^(OED 1989) probably before 1300 in ''Kyng Alisaunder'' in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) The animal itself is from about 1300, with the old plural beeves.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins notes that after the Norman Conquest French words were often used for the meat and English words for the animal (beef against [[cow]] and [[ox]]), but the division is less clear-cut than is claimed, since beef has also been used for the live animal from Middle English to the present.^(Cresswell 2021) Beef of other kinds of flesh is from 1661,^(OED 1989) and human flesh, strength or muscular power from 1851;^(OED 1989) ''beef to the heels'', massive, brawny, is from 1867.^(OED 1989) Cattle collectively is American from about 1706.^(OED 1989) The noun meaning a complaint is from the 1880s, the verb, to complain, from 1888 in American English,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021) perhaps from soldiers' complaints about the quantity or quality of their beef rations;^(Etymonline) an argument or quarrel is from the 1930s.^(Etymonline) To ''beef up'', strengthen, is a later American use.^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) The [[beefeater]] was at first an eater of beef, then a Yeoman of the Guard (17th century).^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – the meat of an ox.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – the animal itself.^(Etymonline)

+ * 17th century – beefeater.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1851 – human muscle, strength.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1888 – to complain.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930s – an argument.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The flesh of a full-grown [[steer]], bull, ox or cow, used as food.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(plural beeves)'' A full-grown animal of the cattle kind, raised for meat.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Human muscle; [[brawn]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(slang)'' A complaint or grievance; a quarrel.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(slang)'' To complain.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(beef up)'' To strengthen or reinforce.^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[beefless]]

+ * [[beefalo]]

+ * [[beefburger]]

+ * [[beefcake]]

+ * [[beefeater]]

+ * [[beefsteak]]

+ * [[beefy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bovine]]

+ * [[cow]]

+ * [[buffalo]]

+ * [[bugle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}