veal

American  

[veel] / vil /

noun

1. Also vealer a calf raised for its meat, usually a milk-fed animal less than three months old.

2. the flesh of the calf as used for food.

---

veal British  

/ viːl /

noun

1. the flesh of the calf used as food

2. Also called: veal calf.  a calf, esp one bred for eating

---

Etymology

Origin of veal

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ve(e)l, from Anglo-French vel (compare Old French veel, veal), from Latin vitellus, diminutive of vitulus “calf”

Example Sentences

"Veal", "pork", "chicken", "turkey", "duck" and "lamb" were less lucky -- as well as the generic label "meat".

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

Engineer James Veal helped to extract the ice close to the Concordia base in eastern Antarctica.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2025

Courtney Veal, the Judicial Qualifications Commission executive director, did not respond to an email seeking comment.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2024

Veal, as in wiener schnitzel, is traditional in Austria, but you can also schnitzel all sorts of meats, like pork or chicken.

From Salon • Oct. 5, 2021

Veal, lamb and mutton, are good cut in small strips, and warmed with boiled potatoes, cut in slices, and pepper, salt, and gravy.

From The New England Cook Book, or Young Housekeeper's Guide Being a Collection of the Most Valuable Receipts; Embracing all the Various Branches of Cookery, and Written in a Minute and Methodical Manner by Anonymous