beefeater

[ beef-ee-ter ]

noun

1. a yeoman of the English royal guard or a warder of the Tower of London.
2. Informal. an Englishman.
3. a person who eats beef.

beefeater

/ ˈbiːfˌiːtə /

noun

1. a nickname often applied to the Yeomen of the Guard and the Yeomen Warders at the Tower of London

Word History and Origins

Origin of beefeater¹

First recorded in 1600–10; beef + eat ( def )

Example Sentences

It will be guarded constantly by soldiers or by Yeoman Warders - known as beefeaters - from the Tower Of London.

From Reuters

Charlotte had advanced, correctly spelling “kathakali” and “beefeater” and defining “gubernatorial.”

From Washington Post

The musical posits Britain as a land of fancy chandeliers, postcard palaces and plummy accents — what, no beefeaters?!?

From Washington Post

They are believed to be known as beefeaters as they once received a portion of their salary in beef.

From Fox News

I diligently watched a beefeater for eight hours while he was on duty, and he didn't eat beef once during that period.

From The Guardian