calf

¹

[kaf, kahf]

noun

plural

calves 

1. the young of the domestic cow or other bovine animal.

2. the young of certain other mammals, as elephants, seals, and whales.

3. calfskin.

4. Informal.,  an awkward, silly boy or man.

5. a mass of ice detached from a glacier, iceberg, or floe.

calf

²

[kaf, kahf]

noun

plural

calves 

1. the fleshy part of the back of the human leg below the knee.

calf

¹

/ kɑːf /

noun

1. the young of cattle, esp domestic cattle

2. the young of certain other mammals, such as the buffalo, elephant, giraffe, and whale

3. a large piece of floating ice detached from an iceberg, etc

4. to celebrate lavishly, esp as a welcome

5. another name for calfskin

calf

²

/ kɑːf /

noun

1. the thick fleshy part of the back of the leg between the ankle and the knee

Other Word Forms

• calfless adjective
• calflike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of calf¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English cealf, calf; cognate with Old Saxon kalf, Old Norse kalfr, Old High German kalb, from Germanic kalboz

Origin of calf²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse kalfi

Word History and Origins

Origin of calf¹

Old English cealf; related to Old Norse kālfr, Gothic kalbō, Old High German kalba

Origin of calf²

C14: from Old Norse kalfi

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. kill the fatted calf, to prepare an elaborate feast in welcome or celebration.

2. in calf, (of a cow or other animal having calves) pregnant.

see kill the fatted calf; puppy (calf) love.

Example Sentences

I believe it made contact with my right calf and my work radio.

Read more on BBC

At most, traditional dairy farms calves are separated from their mothers within 24 hours of their birth.

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Their prey included larger species such as California sea lions, northern elephant seals, gray whale calves and Pacific white-sided dolphins, and they typically hunted in groups averaging nine individuals.

Read more on Science Daily

One is a long-term decline in the size of the U.S. cattle herd, which has fallen to about 87.2 million head of cattle and calves, its lowest level since 1951.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“When I assisted at the births of calves and lambs back at the Swanburne Academy, Dr. Westminster always said we should keep calm and trust nature to take its course.”

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• shin