Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for calf on Thesaurus.com noun, plural calves [kavz, kahvz] /kævz, kɑvz/ 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. Show More
in calf , (of a cow or other animal having calves) pregnant. kill the fatted calf , to prepare an elaborate feast in welcome or celebration. Show More
Origin of calf 1 before 900; Middle English; Old English cealf, calf; cognate with Old Saxon kalf, Old Norse kalfr, Old High German kalb
Related forms calf·less , adjective calf·like , adjective noun, plural calves [kavz, kahvz] /kævz, kɑvz/ the fleshy part of the back of the human leg below the knee. Show More
Origin of calf 2 1275–1325; Middle English <
Old Norse kalfi; akin to
calf1 Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for calf Contemporary Examples of calf “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 .
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 of calf Also with knuckle of veal, and with calf 's head boiled plain.
It had got chopped off by some accident when she was a calf .
"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.
British Dictionary definitions for calf the young of cattle, esp domestic cattle Related 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 Show More
Word Origin for calf Old English cealf; related to Old Norse kālfr, Gothic kalbō, Old High German kalba
the thick fleshy part of the back of the leg between the ankle and the knee Related adjective: sural Show More
Word Origin for calf 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.
Show More
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).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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. Show More
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 see kill the fatted calf; puppy (calf) love.
Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
