Beau
/boʊ/noun
A handsome man or male admirer; also used as a stylish or fashionable man.
Did you know?Beau entered English from French, where it literally meant “beautiful,” and the same root also gave English *beauty*, *beauteous*, and *belie* through older forms tied to what is pleasing or fair.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰewh₂-
“to be fitting, suitable, or proper”
Latin
Latin
bellus
“beautiful, fine, handsome”
Old French
Old French
bel / beau
“beautiful, handsome, fine”
Middle English
English
beau
“a handsome or fashionable man”
Modern English
English
beau
“a male admirer or stylish man”