calf1
[kaf, kahf]
- the young of the domestic cow or other bovine animal.
- the young of certain other mammals, as the elephant, seal, and whale.
- calfskin leather.
- Informal. an awkward, silly boy or man.
- a mass of ice detached from a glacier, iceberg, or floe.
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- in calf, (of a cow or other animal having calves) pregnant.
- kill the fatted calf, to prepare an elaborate feast in welcome or celebration.
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Origin of calf1
before 900; Middle English; Old English cealf, calf; cognate with Old Saxon kalf, Old Norse kalfr, Old High German kalb
calf2
[kaf, kahf]
- the fleshy part of the back of the human leg below the knee.
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Origin of calf2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for calf
Contemporary Examples
“Good, number 15 – she and her calf are still in the same place,” he said.
At her side was her calf, which turned and squinted at us through baby eyes.
He remembers being able to wrap his thumb and middle finger around her calf.
How Difficult Russian Adoptions Were, Even Before Vladimir Putin’s CrackdownLauren Ashburn
December 31, 2012
He commanded the brigade in the 2008 war with Russia that suffered the most casualties and he himself was shot in the calf.
Her dour father is clad in plaid shorts and black dress socks pulled up snugly along the calf.
Historical Examples
Also with knuckle of veal, and with calf's head boiled plain.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
It had got chopped off by some accident when she was a calf.
Ranald Bannerman's BoyhoodGeorge MacDonald
"The Koerting; so it is," said the Baron, when shown the X-ray photograph of his calf.
But the calf has in its upper jaw some rudiments of teeth which never are developed, and never play the part of teeth at all.
Then take out the calf's head and strain the stock into a clean pan.
The Skilful CookMary Harrison
calf1
- the young of cattle, esp domestic cattleRelated adjective: vituline
- the young of certain other mammals, such as the buffalo, elephant, giraffe, and whale
- a large piece of floating ice detached from an iceberg, etc
- kill the fatted calf to celebrate lavishly, esp as a welcome
- another name for calfskin
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Word Origin
Old English cealf; related to Old Norse kālfr, Gothic kalbō, Old High German kalba
calf2
- the thick fleshy part of the back of the leg between the ankle and the kneeRelated adjective: sural
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Word Origin
C14: from Old Norse kalfi
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for calf
n.1
"young cow," Old English cealf (Anglian cælf) "young cow," from West Germanic *kalbam (cf. Middle Dutch calf, Old Norse kalfr, German Kalb, Gothic kalbo), perhaps from PIE *gelb(h)-, from root *gel- "to swell," hence, "womb, fetus, young of an animal." Elliptical sense of "leather made from the skin of a calf" is from 1727. Used of icebergs that break off from glaciers from 1818.
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n.2
fleshy part of the lower leg, early 14c., from Old Norse kalfi, source unknown; possibly from the same Germanic root as calf (n.1).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
calf
(kăf)- The fleshy, muscular back part of the human leg between the knee and ankle, formed chiefly by the bellies of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with calf
calf
see kill the fatted calf; puppy (calf) love.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.