Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. beef.

1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1932		‘P.P.’ Rhy. Sl.
1960		J. Franklyn Dict. of Rhy. Sl.
2002		Pete’s Aussie Sl. Home Page 🌐 stop thief: beef.

2. stolen meat.

1857

‘Ducange Anglicus’ Vulgar Tongue 35: stop thief n. Meat stolen. ‘I have got this piece of stop thief.’ I stole this piece of raw meat.