bef

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

Translingual

Symbol

bef

1. (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Benabena.

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Benabena terms

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 bœuf.

Noun

bef

1. bull
2. beef

References

• Baker, Philip; Hookoomsing, Vinesh Y. (1987), Diksiyoner kreol morisyeṅ [Mauritian Creole Dictionary] (in French and English), Paris: L'Harmattan, →ISBN, page 48
• Carpooran, Arnaud (2011), Diksioner Morisien [Mauritian Dictionary] (in Mauritian Creole), second edition, Éditions Le Printemps, →ISBN, page 181

Middle English

Alternative forms

• beef, buf
• beeff, beeffe, befe, bief (Late Middle English); byffe (Promptorium Parvulorum)
• beffe, beif, beiff (Northern); beof, boef, bouf (especially Southern, West Midland)

Etymology

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman beof, Old French buef; ultimately from Latin bovem, accusative of bōs. Doublet of cow; first attested in c. 1300.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beːf/
• IPA^(key): /bøːf/ (Southern, West Midland)

Noun

bef (uncountable, genitive singular beves)

1. beef (the meat of a cow or ox)
2. cow or ox, especially as a carcass

Descendants

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

References

• “bẹ̄f, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 3 April 2018.

Seychellois Creole

Etymology

From French boeuf.

Noun

bef

1. bull
2. beef

References

• D'Offay, Danielle; Lionnet, Guy (1982), Diksyonner kreol-franse [Creole-French Dictionary] (in French), Hamburg: Buske, →ISBN

Volapük

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bef/

Noun

bef (genitive befa, plural befs)

1. alcove

Declension

Declension of bef

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	bef	befs
Genitive	befa	befas
Dative	befe	befes
Accusative	befi	befis
Predicative1	befu	befus
Vocative	o bef	o befs

1. Introduced in Volapük Nulik.