Where did the word beef come from?

The word "beef" has a fascinating history that traces back to ancient times:

* Old English: The word "beef" comes directly from the Old English word "bēf," which referred to the meat of an ox or cow. This word itself is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*bōwō," meaning "cow" or "ox."

* Latin Roots: The Proto-Germanic word likely originated from the Latin word "bos," which also meant "cow" or "ox."

So, the journey of the word "beef" can be traced back to the Latin word for "cow" and through various Germanic languages until it landed in its modern English form.