bœuf

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See also: boeuf

French

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Inherited from Middle French bœuf, from Old French buef, boef, from Latin bovem (ox), from Proto-Italic *gʷōs, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws (compare English cow).

The music sense derives from the expression faire un Bœuf, after the Parisian cabaret-bar Le Bœuf sur le toit where jam sessions were held.[1]

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /bœf/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio (Paris):(file)
  • Rhymes: -œf

Noun

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bœuf m (plural bœufs)

  1. ox
  2. bullock, steer
  3. beef
  4. (music) jam session
    faire un bœufto have a jam session
  5. (Quebec, slang, derogatory) a police officer; a pig
    • 1996, Chrystine Brouillet, C'est pour mieux t'aimer, mon enfant, →ISBN, page 79:
      "T’as peut-être fait quelque chose de croche. Si toi tu le sais pas, les bœufs le savent, eux."
      "Maybe you did something wrong. Even if you don't know, the pigs will."

Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Haitian Creole: bèf

References

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  1. ^ Daniella Thompson (2017 February 7 (last accessed)) “How the Ox got its name, and other Parisian legends”, in The Boeuf chronicles, Pt. 5[1]

Further reading

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Middle French

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Etymology

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From Old French buef, boef, from Latin bos, bovem.

Noun

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bœuf m (plural bœufs)

  1. ox (animal)