beefeater

American  

[beef-ee-ter] / ˈbifˌi tər /

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 British  

/ ˈbiːfˌiːtə /

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of beefeater

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

Example Sentences

Chief beefeater Peter McGowren says it's the quietest the tower ever has been.

From Fox News • May 21, 2020

The tradition of tall tales spun by the yeoman warder, or beefeater, guides is as old as the Line of Kings itself.

From The Guardian • Jul. 7, 2013

Yet, until six months ago, he has made little more impact on the Western world than a splendidly caparisoned beefeater, opening and closing the door through which more ambitious men approached the Soviet throne room.

From Time Magazine Archive

He created the character of Colonel Blimp, a florid beefeater with a walrus mustache who symbolized British complacency in the teeth of the 20th century's storms.

From Time Magazine Archive

The beefeater before the door of the Lady Mary's lodgings spat upon the ground when he had passed.

From The Fifth Queen And How She Came to Court by Ford, Ford Madox