beestings

or beast·ings, biest·ings

[ bee-stingz ]

noun

, (used with a singular verb)

1. the first milk or colostrum of a mammal, especially a cow, after giving birth.

beestings

/ ˈbiːstɪŋz /

noun

1. functioning as singular the first milk secreted by the mammary glands of a cow or similar animal immediately after giving birth; colostrum

Word History and Origins

Origin of beestings¹

before 1000; late Middle English bestynge, Old English bȳsting, equivalent to bēost beestings (cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German biost, German Biest ) + -ing -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of beestings¹

Old English bӯsting , from bēost beestings; related to Middle Dutch biest

Example Sentences

“We’ve all had beestings before. It’s okay.”

From Literature

In Britain, dairy farmers refer to it as beestings: traditionally, mother cows would be milked after feeding their newborn calves and any surplus colostrum was used to make an extra-creamy, and very healthy, pudding.

From The Guardian

Get some small cuttle-fish, or squids, some nestis, Some small fry of the polypus, some tripe, And beestings and black-puddings; get besides A noble head of the Milesian pike.

From Project Gutenberg

There too were cakes of groats well steep'd in milk, In large flat dishes, and rich plates of beestings.

From Project Gutenberg

Vicente was the kind of boy who would challenge his friends to see who could withstand the most beestings--and win.

From Time Magazine Archive