Beastings

/ˈbiːstɪŋz/ noun

Definition

The first milk produced by a cow after giving birth, which is thicker and richer than regular milk and was historically used to make special foods.

Etymology

From Old English 'beorst' or 'biorst,' the first milk after calving. The term evolved from Germanic roots and was commonly used in dairy farming throughout medieval and early modern Europe.

Kelly Says

Beastings was so valued that it appears in historical recipes and legal documents—in some places, disputes over beastings rights were serious enough to go to court! It's packed with antibodies that help newborn calves survive.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.