Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Calf
Calf
,Noun.
pl.
Calves
(#)
. [OE.
calf
, kelf
, AS. cealf
; akin to D. kalf
, G. kalb
, Icel. kālfr
, Sw. kalf
, Dan. kalv
, Goth. kalbō
; cf. Skr. garbha
fetus, young, Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK], Skr grabh
to seize, conceive, Ir. colpa
, colpach
, a calf. √222.] 1.
The young of the cow, or of the Bovine family of quadrupeds. Also, the young of some other mammals, as of the elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, and whale.
2.
Leather made of the skin of the calf; especially, a fine, light-colored leather used in bookbinding;
as, to bind books in
. calf
3.
An awkward or silly boy or young man; any silly person; a dolt.
[Colloq.]
Some silly, doting, brainless
calf
. Drayton.
4.
A small island near a larger;
as, the
. Calf
of Man5.
A small mass of ice set free from the submerged part of a glacier or berg, and rising to the surface.
Kane.
6.
[Cf. Icel.
kālfi
.] The fleshy hinder part of the leg below the knee.
Calf’s-foot jelly
, jelly made from the feet of calves. The gelatinous matter of the feet is extracted by boiling, and is flavored with sugar, essences, etc.
Webster 1828 Edition
Calf
CALF
, n.1.
The young of the cow, or of the bovine genus of quadrupeds.2.
In contempt, a dolt; an ignorant, stupid person; a weak or cowardly man.3.
The thick fleshy part of the leg behind; so called from its protuberance.4.
The calves of the lips, in Hosea, signify the pure offerings of prayer, praise and thanks-giving.