n. & v.
n. 1 the flesh of the ox, bull, or esp. the cow, for eating. 2 colloq. well-developed male muscle. 3 (pl. beeves or US beefs) a cow, bull, or ox fattened for beef; its carcass. 4 (pl. beefs) sl. a complaint; a protest.
v.intr. sl. complain. beef tea stewed extract of beef, given to invalids. beef up sl. strengthen, reinforce, augment. beef-wood 1 any of various Australian and W. Indian hardwood trees. 2 the close-grained red timber of these.
[ ME f. AF, OF boef f. L bos bovis ox ]