Calf definition |Dictionary.com

Synonyms of Calf

gastrocnemial, sural, dogie, dolt, fatling, foreleg, gastrocnemius, maverick, muscle, veal, yearling, youth

Calf

9 dictionary results for: Calf

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

calf1

[kaf, kahf] Pronunciation Key

–noun, plural calves

[kavz, kahvz] Pronunciation Key.

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

2.	the young of certain other mammals, as the elephant, seal, and whale.

3.	calfskin leather.

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

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

—Idioms

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

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

[Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE cealf, calf; c. OS kalf, ON kalfr, OHG kalb

]

—Related forms

calfless, adjective

calflike, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

calf2 [kaf, kahf] Pronunciation Key

–noun, plural calves [kavz, kahvz] Pronunciation Key.

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

[Origin: 1275–1325; ME < ON kalfi; akin to calf¹

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

calf¹ (kāf, käf) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. calves (kāvz, kävz)

1. A young cow or bull.
2. The young of certain other mammals, such as the elephant or whale.
Calfskin leather.
A large floating chunk of ice split off from a glacier, iceberg, or floe.
An awkward, callow youth.

[Middle English, from Old English cealf.]

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calf² (kāf, käf) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. calves (kāvz, kävz)
The fleshy muscular back part of the human leg between the knee and ankle.

[Middle English, from Old Norse kālfi; possibly akin to calf¹ (from its shape).]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
calf

O.E. cealf "young cow," from W.Gmc. *kalbam, perh. from PIE *gelb(h)-, from base *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. Calf of the leg is from O.N. kalfr, source unknown; possibly from the same Gmc. root.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

calf
noun
1.	young of domestic cattle
2.	the muscular back part of the shank
3.	fine leather from the skin of a calf
4.	young of various large placental mammals e.g. whale or giraffe or elephant or buffalo

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

calf

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

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Calf

Calf\, n.; pl. Calves. [OE. calf, kelf, AS. cealf; akin to D. kalf, G. kalb, Icel. k[=a]lfr, Sw. kalf, Dan. kalv, Goth. kalb[=o]; cf. Skr. garbha fetus, young, Gr. ?????, Skr grabh to seize, conceive, Ir. colpa, colpach, a calf. [root]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 Man.

5. 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. k[=a]lfi.] 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.

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