Well, gosh. Simply from Norman French, a critter or a person held in contempt. And in a wild world, only used four times.

• 5.055 Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
• 8.029 and sure shot into the leaping beast.
• 9.008 Are the spiders your tame beasts or your pets,
• 12.030 That’ll be the end of our poor beasts!’