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.Definition 2024
calf
calf
English
Noun
calf (plural calves or calfs)
- A young cow or bull.
- Leather made of the skin of the calf; especially, a fine, light-coloured leather used in bookbinding.
- A young elephant, seal or whale (also used of some other animals).
- A chunk of ice broken off of a larger glacier, ice shelf, or iceberg.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Kane to this entry?)
- A small island, near a larger island.
- the Calf of Man
- A cabless railroad engine.
- (informal, dated) An awkward or silly boy or young man; any silly person; a dolt.
- Drayton
- some silly, doting, brainless calf
- Drayton
Synonyms
Derived terms
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Related terms
Translations
young cow or bull
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young elephant, seal or whale (also used of some other animals)
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chunk of ice broken off of a larger glacier, ice shelf, or iceberg
See also
Etymology 2
Calf of the leg
Old Norse kalfi, possibly derived from the same Germanic root as calf (“young cow”) (above).
Noun
calf (plural calves or calfs)
- (anatomy) The back of the leg below the knee.
- The muscle in the back of the leg below the knee.
- 1988, Steve Holman, "Christian Conquers Columbus", Ironman, 47 (6): 28-34.
- Sure, his calves are a little weak, but the rest of his physique is so overwhelming, he should place high.
- 1988, Steve Holman, "Christian Conquers Columbus", Ironman, 47 (6): 28-34.
Translations
anatomy: back of the leg below the knee
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muscle in the back of the leg below the knee
Anagrams
Middle Dutch
Etymology
From Old Dutch kalf, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kalf/
Noun
calf n (stem calv- or calver-)
Derived terms
- Dutch: kalf
Declension
Etymology
A cow and calf
From Old English cealf, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz (compare Dutch kalf, German Kalb, Danish kalv), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷolbʰo (“womb, animal young”), *gʷelbʰ- (compare Ancient Greek (Hesychius) δολφός (dolphós, “womb”), δελφύς (delphús), Avestan 𐬔𐬀𐬭𐬆𐬎𐬎𐬀 (garəwa) 'uterus', Sanskrit गर्भ (gárbha) 'womb'), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to swell”).