beestings

Or beast·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.”

Read more on 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.

Read more on 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.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

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

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

Read more on Time Magazine Archive