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Glite Dictionary
Bovril

Bovril

1 8.8
A thick beef paste used to add rich flavour to food or as a warm drink when ill
  • noun
  • /ˈbɑːvrɪl/
translation icon : Bovril
  • 'He was West Ham's top boy, an inspiration to us all ♪ There's your Bovril, Bill, nice and hot.

Examples

  • TWO PACKETS, COFFEE--TWO TINS, BOVRIL--ONE JAR, CIGARETTES--

    The Great Escape (1963)

  • Many people enjoy a warm cup of Bovril when they have a cold.

  • - Just ordinary Bovril and sherry?

    In Which We Serve (1942)

  • - Just ordinary Bovril and sherry.

    In Which We Serve (1942)

  • It's just Bovril rather heavily laced with sherry.

    In Which We Serve (1942)

  • Bovril: So "gsgs" to use your other tag, based on the very definition you have provided, you are a concern troll.

    Blog text (15)

  • Two weeks later, an ad claimed that "Bovril is all British" and, furthermore, that "it is the only food which has been proved by independent scientific investigation to possess body-building powers from 10 to 20 times the amount taken."

    Academic text (2006)

  • To add flavor to the soup, I stirred in a spoonful of Bovril.

  • During his recovery, he drank Bovril daily for its nourishing properties.

Synonyms

beef tea
vsBovril
  • Archaic
1 7.7

A clear drink made by cooking beef slowly in water for sick people

is a concentrated extract used hot or as a flavouring and gives stronger nourishment

Surface Forms

Bovril singular
Bovrils plural

Etymology

Bovril is a brand name made from bov- meaning 'cow' and Vril, a made-up word for 'energy', so the name suggests 'cow energy'. That's why Bovril is a strong beef extract used as a hot drink or flavouring to give quick strength and warmth.