bef

See also: BEF, B.E.F., and B. E. F.

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɛf/
• Hyphenation: bef
• Rhymes: -ɛf

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch beffe (“cap, collar”), from Old French biffe. Further origin uncertain. Compare German Beffchen.

Noun

bef f (plural beffen, diminutive befje n)

1. (archaic) collar
2. an ornamental pair of bands worn hanging over the chest, notably as part of formal dress by magistrates, professors and certain Catholic and Protestant clergy
3. by analogy, any of certain other similar objects
4. a patch on the throat or chest of a different color on cats or dogs
5. (slang) the vulva

Derived terms

• beffen
• beffendracht
• befgajes
• befkraag
• beflijster
• gebeft
• priesterbef

 

Etymology 2

Noun

bef f (plural beffen, diminutive befje n)

1. a nickname for an unspecified small Dutch coin

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

bef

1. inflection of beffen:
   1. first-person singular present indicative
   2. (in case of inversion) second-person singular present indicative
   3. imperative

Mauritian Creole

Etymology

From French boeuf.

Noun

bef

1. bull
2. beef

References

• Baker, Philip & Hookoomsing, Vinesh Y. 1987. Dictionnaire de créole mauricien. Morisyen – English – Français

Middle English

Alternative forms

• beef, bouf, beof, buf, boef, bief, beffe, befe

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman beof, Old French buef; ultimately from Latin bovem, accusative of bōs. Doublet of cou.

Pronunciation

• (Early Middle English) IPA^(key): /bøːf/
• IPA^(key): /beːf/

Noun

bef (uncountable)

1. beef; cow flesh or meat
2. A bovine or its carcass

Descendants

• English: beef (see there for further descendants)
• Scots: beef

References

• “bẹ̄f, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-03.

Seychellois Creole

Etymology

From French boeuf.

Noun

bef

1. bull
2. beef

References

• Danielle D’Offay et Guy Lionnet, Diksyonner Kreol - Franse / Dictionnaire Créole Seychellois - Français

Volapük

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bef/

Noun

bef (nominative plural befs)

1. alcove

Declension

	singular	plural
nominative	bef	befs
genitive	befa	befas
dative	befe	befes
accusative	befi	befis
vocative 1	o bef!	o befs!
predicative 2	befu	befus

declension of bef

• ¹ status as a case is disputed
• ² in later, non-classical Volapük only