beefy
UK: ˈbiːfi | US: ˈbifi
adj. 1. (of a person) having a solid, muscular physique.
adj. 2. (of food) containing or resembling beef; substantial.
adj. 3. (informal) robust or powerful in appearance or effect.
The word "beefy" combines "beef," derived from Old French boef (itself from Latin bos, meaning "ox/cattle"), with the suffix "-y," which forms adjectives implying "full of" or "resembling." Originally tied to literal beef (e.g., "beefy stew"), by the 19th century, it evolved metaphorically to describe muscular strength, likening human brawn to the heft of cattle meat. This reflects a cultural association between livestock robustness and human physicality.
The bodybuilder had a beefy frame that intimidated his competitors.
She prepared a beefy chili with chunks of steak and beans.
The new smartphone boasts a beefy processor for gaming.
His beefy arms strained the seams of his shirt.
The novel’s plot was beefy with twists and subplots.