Beefeater

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A ceremonial guard at the Tower of London known historically as a royal castle caretaker ; a brand of gin produced in Britain, known for its strong juniper flavor
2. An official appointed to protect and supervise the Tower of London in traditional dress ; a popular British distilled spirit characterized by a predominant juniper taste
3. A member of the historic royal bodyguard stationed at the Tower of London, traditionally dressed ; a British-made gin recognized for its distinctive, robust botanical profile

Etymology: The name looks like a plain compound, beef plus eater, but the sense that matters is the one the Tower guards were given. Their nickname is usually linked to the ration of salt beef and other provisions they received as part of their pay, which made them, in a sense, men who ate beef. Whether the nickname was coined by the public or by the guards themselves, and when it first appeared, is not something this account can confirm, so it is best to treat the tie to rations as the commonly given explanation rather than settled fact. The gin came later and borrowed the name from the guards. Its label shows a Yeoman Warder in full Tudor dress, a visual link that ties the spirit to the Tower and reinforces the older nickname. The two senses thus share one image, a figure in red and gold, even though one is a job and the other a bottle.