Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “boeuf” come from?

boeuf (French) comes from Middle French bœuf, from Old French buef, from Latin bōs, from Ancient Greek βοῦς, from Latin corvus, from Proto-Italic korwos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱorh₂wós, from Proto-Indo-European ḱer- — army.

boeuf (French): ox; beef; jam session

Definitions

  1. ox; beef; jam session

Ancestry of “boeuf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchbœufox
2Old Frenchbuefcow
3Latinbōs—
4Ancient Greekβοῦςcow, ox, cattle; shield: ὃτι ἐκ βοείων ἐστι...
5LatincorvusA raven; a bird associated with prophecy and...
6Proto-Italickorwos—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱorh₂wós—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
10Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

Words derived from “boeuf”

  • beef
  • beefsteak
  • beefy
  • Beefeater
  • beefcake
  • beefeater
  • rosbif
  • beeve
  • beefburger
  • beefwood
  • beefiness
  • biffin
  • beefily
  • beefless
  • beefish
  • beefer
  • beeflike
  • beef jerky
  • roast beef
  • beefcakey
  • neckbeef
  • beef-witted
  • bully beef
  • bife
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →