beef
UK: biːf | US: biːf
n. the flesh of a cow, bull, or ox, used as food
n. (informal) strength or muscularity
vt. (slang) to complain or grumble
The word "beef" originates from the Old French buef (modern French bœuf), meaning "ox" or "cow." It entered Middle English during the Norman Conquest (11th century), when French terms for meats were adopted by English speakers, while the Anglo-Saxon words for the animals (e.g., cū for "cow") remained. This linguistic duality reflects the social divide: Norman elites ate beef, while Anglo-Saxon peasants tended the cows. Over time, "beef" expanded metaphorically to mean "muscularity" (19th c.) and "complaint" (20th c. slang, likely from "grumbling like a cow").
She prefers chicken over beef for dinner.
The bodybuilder added more protein to his diet to increase his beef.
Stop beefing about the workload and focus on solutions.
This stew uses tender cuts of beef.
Their constant beef over trivial matters ruined the team’s morale.