Where does “bœuf” come from?
bœuf (Middle French) 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.
bœuf (Middle French): ox
Definitions
- ox
Ancestry of “bœuf”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | buef | cow |
| 2 | Latin | bōs | head of cattle (cow, bull, steer, or ox) |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | βοῦς | cow, ox, cattle; shield: ὃτι ἐκ βοείων ἐστι... |
| 4 | Latin | corvus | A raven; a bird associated with prophecy and... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | korwos | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱorh₂wós | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱer- | to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kr̥- | to turn, to bend |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ker- | army |