Obs. Forms: 5–6 leng(e)debefe, -beefe, -boef, -beafe, -biefe, 5 landebeffe, long debefe, long debeof, 6 languedebiefe, -beuf, lang du beaffe, landebeuf, 7 langdebeef, -beuf, landebeef, (8 Langley beef). [Fr.; lit. ‘ox tongue.’]
1. A name variously applied to certain boragineous and other plants with rough leaves, as Echium vulgare, Helminthia echioides, Borrago officinalis, etc., for most of which the etymologically synonymous name BUGLOSS has been applied.
c. 1400. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 84. Of water of lange de boef, a Rote.
c. 1440. Anc. Cookery, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 426. Take cole, and borage, and lang de beeff, and parsell.
[c. 1450. Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.), 24. Buglossa … (gall. lange de beof), anglice oxtunge.]
1551. Turner, Herbal, I. G iv b. Dioscorides … saythe that Cirsion (whyche I take to be oure langdebefe) hath longer leues than buglossum.
1573. Tusser, Husb., xxxix. (1878), 93. Seedes and herbes for the Kitchen … Langdebiefe.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. cclxx. § 2. 654. Lang de Beefe is a kinde heereof, altogither lesser. Ibid., cclxxi. 656. Landebeuf.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 279. The leaves [of Cirsion] in forme resemble an ox tongue or the hearbe Langue-de-bœufe.
1615. Markham, Eng. Housew., II. i. (1668), 14. To quicken a mans wits, spirit and memory, let him take Langdebeef, which is gathered in June or July.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, vii. 146. Lang de beuf is … of like operation with Borage and Buglosse.
1732. Ellis, Pract. Farmer (ed. 2), 47. That called here Langley-Beef.
2. A kind of spike or halbert, with a head shaped like an ox tongue.
1450. Rolls of Parlt., V. 212. Arraied in fourme of werre, with Jakkes Salettez, longe Swerdes, long Debeofs, Boresperes, and all other unmerciable forbodon wepons.
1453. Nottingham Rec., II. 216. Cum uno langdebefe et dagario.
1487. Will of J. Cooke (Somerset Ho.). A jak, a salett & a long debefe.
1488. Will of Shamebourne (ibid.). viij saletty & iiij landebeffe & pollax.
1885. Fairholt, Costume, II. 271.
