Why is beef called beef not cow?

Answer 1

It's all descended from the Norman invasion of England. The Anglo-Saxon words were considered lowly, for peasants only. So "buef" was better than "cu", just as "cuisine" is better than "food."

In 1066, the invading Normans spoke French, the Anglo-Saxon natives spoke Old English. The resulting language, Middle English, included words from both.

We have "pork" from the French and "swine" from Old English, as well as "mutton" from the French and "sheep" from Old English. Likewise, "veal" and "calf". Some have theorized that the Normans were not involved in keeping the animals, only in consuming the product, while the (Anglo-Saxon) peasants were the ones who raised the animals. Consequently, the Germanic words apply to the animals while the French words apply to the meat we derive from them.

Although, as recently as 100 years ago, ranchers in the US would take inventory of the number of "beeves" on their land.

Answer 2

The English word "beef comes from the French "boeuf", a part of our heritage resulting from William the Conqueror's invasion in 1066, from which many names for meats derive from French, such as gammon from gambon and mutton literally from mutton (albeit with a French accent!). As to where the French word boeuf comes from is another question...