2007-02-27 06:47:26 · 7 answers · asked by Micky W 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
The origin of the term 'Beefeater' is unclear. It may originate from the fact that early Warders were paid in beef, amongst other things. Count Cosimo, grand duke of Tuscany, visited the Tower in 1669 and commented on this "A very large ration of beef is given to them daily at court...that they might be called Beef-eaters" and earlier references can also be found. Other suggestions include that it was either a corruption of a French term buffetier, an archaic term for the guard of the king's food; or a derogatory term used when they were relatively well-fed at the side of many ordinary people who lived near them in London
2007-02-27 06:55:29 · answer #1 · answered by softball Queen 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, popularly known as the Beefeaters, are ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. In principle they are responsible for looking after any prisoners at the Tower and safeguarding the British crown jewels, but in practice they act as tour guides and are a tourist attraction in their own right.
The origin of the term 'Beefeater' is unclear. It may originate from the fact that early Warders were paid in beef, amongst other things. Count Cosimo, grand duke of Tuscany, visited the Tower in 1669 and commented on this "A very large ration of beef is given to them daily at court...that they might be called Beef-eaters" and earlier references can also be found. Other suggestions include that it was either a corruption of a French term buffetier, an archaic term for the guard of the king's food; or a derogatory term used when they were relatively well-fed at the side of many ordinary people who lived near them in London.
The term "beefeater" is also used to refer to the traditional headgear of the Yeomen Warders.
2007-03-02 10:39:19 · answer #2 · answered by catdyer2005 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beefeaters used to test the food before royalty ate it to make sure it wasn't poisoned. Hence the origins of the name
2007-02-28 11:25:18 · answer #3 · answered by funkster 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Back in the times of war, the guards at Tower Of London only had rations of beef to eat. I guess they smelt of beef a lot and thats why the name stuck.
2007-02-27 15:00:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They used to pay them in rations of beef.
2007-02-27 14:59:01 · answer #5 · answered by Narky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They tasted the food to make sure it wasn't poisoned.
2007-03-02 11:37:27 · answer #6 · answered by Think Tank 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its something to-do with there meat ration from years ago
2007-02-27 15:49:27 · answer #7 · answered by THE NEW COLLECTOR 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋