calf
nounnouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//kɑːf//
- Canada//kæf//
- Australia//kɐːf//
- Ireland//kaf//
- //kaːf//
A young cow or bull of any bovid, such as domestic cattle or buffalo.
noun
- 1
A young cow or bull of any bovid, such as domestic cattle or buffalo.
- 2
Leather made of the skin of domestic calves; especially, a fine, light-coloured leather used in bookbinding.
- 3
The young of various animals, especially elephant, giraffe, reindeer, seal, or whale (also indiscriminately used of other animals).
- 4
A mass of ice broken from a larger glacier, ice shelf, or iceberg.
1915 (published), 1848 (first written), Elisha Kent Kane, Adrift in the Arctic Ice Pack Our swell ceases with this wind, and the floes seem disposed to come together again; but the days of winter have passed by, and the interposing calves prevent the apposition of the edges
- 5
A small island, near a larger island.
- 6
A cabless railroad engine.
- 7
datedAn awkward or silly boy or young man; any silly person; a dolt.
some silly, doating, brainless calf
Etymology
From Middle English calf, from Anglian Old English cælf, calf (West Saxon ċealf), from Proto-West Germanic *kalb, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz, further etymology unknown. Cognates * Scots caff (“calf”) * Scots calf (“calf”) * Scots cauf (“calf”) * Scots cawf (“calf”) * North Frisian Kualev (“calf”) * North Frisian kualew (“calf”) * North Frisian kuulew (“calf”) * Saterland Frisian Koolich (“calf”) * West Frisian keal (“calf”) * German Kalb (“calf”) * Luxembourgish Kallef (“calf”) * Limburgish kalf (“calf”) * Dutch kalf (“calf”) * Vilamovian kołb (“calf”) * Vilamovian kołp (“calf”) * Faroese kálvur (“calf”) * Icelandic kálfur (“calf”) * Danish kalv (“calf”) * Norwegian Bokmål kalv (“calf”) * Norwegian Nynorsk kalv (“calf”) * Swedish kalv (“calf”)
noun
- 1
The back of the leg below the knee.
- 2
The muscle in the back of the leg below the knee.
Sure, his calves are a little weak, but the rest of his physique is so overwhelming, he should place high.
Etymology
From Middle English calf, kalf, from Old Norse kalfi, possibly derived from the same Germanic root as English calf (“young cow”) (above). Cognate with Icelandic kálfi (“calf of the leg”).
Forms
- plural
- calves, calfs
calf · A young cow or bull of any bovid, such as domestic cattle or buffalo.
caliber · Diameter of the bore of a firearm, typically measured between…California · The most populous state of the United States. Capital:…call · To reach out with one's voice. To request, summon, or beckon.