Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “bef” come from?

bef (Middle English) comes 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-, from Proto-Indo-European kr̥- — army.

bef (Middle English): beef; cow flesh or meat; A bovine or its carcass

Definitions

  1. beef; cow flesh or meat; A bovine or its carcass

Ancestry of “bef”, step by step

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

Words derived from “bef”

  • 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- →