Beef \Beef\ (b[=e]f), n. [OE. boef, befe, beef, OF. boef, buef, F. b[oe]ef, fr. L. bos, bovis, ox; akin to Gr. boy^s, Skr. g[=o] cow, and E. cow. See 2d Cow.]

1. An animal of the genus Bos, especially the common species, B. taurus, including the bull, cow, and ox, in their full grown state; esp., an ox or cow fattened for food.

Note: [In this, which is the original sense, the word has a plural, beeves (b[=e]vz).]

A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine. --Milton.

2. The flesh of an ox, or cow, or of any adult bovine animal, when slaughtered for food.

Note: [In this sense, the word has no plural.]

``Great meals of beef.'' --Shak.

3. Applied colloquially to human flesh.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Beef \Beef\, a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, beef.

Beef tea, essence of beef, or strong beef broth.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)