Etymology

From Middle High German behuof, from Old High German *bihuof, from Proto-Germanic *bihōfą ‎(“behoof, profit, need”). Cognate with Old High German bihuobida ‎(“need”), Middle Low German behōf ‎(“behoof, advantage”), Dutch behoefte ‎(“need”), English behoof ‎(“advantage, benefit, need”). More at behoof.