Why is beef called beef?

Answer 1

That beef comes from cows is known to most, but the close relationship between the words beef and cow is hardly household knowledge. Cow comes via Middle English from Old English c, which is descended from the Indo-European root *gwou–, also meaning “cow.” This root has descendants in most of the branches of the Indo-European language family. Among those descendants is the Latin word bs, “cow,” whose stem form, bov-, eventually became the Old French word buef, also meaning “cow.” The French nobles who ruled England after the Norman Conquest of course used French words to refer to the meats they were served, so the animal called c by the Anglo-Saxon peasants was called buef by the French nobles when it was brought to them cooked at dinner. Thus arose the distinction between the words for animals and their meat that is also found in the English word-pairs swine/pork, sheep/mutton, and deer/venison. What is interesting about cow/beef is that we are in fact dealing with one and the same word, etymologically speaking.

Answer 2

ALL words in English origate somewhere, maybe coming from another language or being pronounced like a word from another language. Its called ethymology BTW and the origins of 'beef' are from old French 'boef' through Middle English 'boef'. The French word has origins in the Latin word 'bós' which is related to an old Gaelic word [still in use] 'bó'

Answer 3

Why is chicken called chicken? Some caveman probably looked at some beef and said "Beef is a good name, we'll call this beef!" Try to say chicken when your drunk, it's much easier to say bf!

Answer 4

It's from the French 'boeuf', meaning beef - introduced into England after the Norman Conquest (1066). Interestingly, the Norman French words were used to describe the meat, and the Anglo Saxon words the animal; cf 'pig' and 'pork' (from the French 'porc').

Answer 5

c.1300, from O.Fr. boef, from L. bos (gen. bovis, acc. bovem) "ox, cow." Original plural was beeves. The verb meaning "to complain" is slang first recorded 1888. Beefy "brawny" is from 1743. Beefeater "warder of the Tower of London" (1671) is a contemptuous reference to well-fed servants of the royal household; the notion is of "eating another's beef" (cf. O.E. hlaf-æta "servant," lit. "loaf-eater"). To beef up "add strength" is from 1890.

Answer 6

Because it.s beef! why else!

Answer 7

cause i dont think it would sound rite if they called it pork

Answer 8

Hi coz its big and thick and 'beefy'

Answer 9

Thank God for all of you linguists. LOL

Answer 10

What would you wanna call it?? feeb?