calf

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English

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: käf, IPA(key): /kɑːf/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: kǎf, IPA(key): /kæf/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "AUS" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /kɐːf/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɑːf, -æf

Etymology 1

A cow and calf

From Middle English calf, kælf, kelf, from Old English cælf, ċealf; also cognate with German Kalb (“calf”) and Dutch calf (“calf”), from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz, further etymology unknown[1].

Noun

calf (plural calves)

  1. A young cow or bull.
  2. Leather made of the skin of the calf; especially, a fine, light-coloured leather used in bookbinding.
  3. A young deer, elephant, seal or whale (also used of some other animals).
  4. A chunk of ice broken from a larger glacier, ice shelf, or iceberg.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Kane to this entry?)
  5. A small island, near a larger island.
    the Calf of Man
  6. A cabless railroad engine.
  7. (informal, dated) An awkward or silly boy or young man; any silly person; a dolt.
    • Drayton
      some silly, doting, brainless calf
Synonyms
Derived terms

Template:mid2

Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
See also

Etymology 2

Calf of the leg

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”).

Noun

calf (plural calves)

  1. (anatomy) The back of the leg below the knee.
  2. 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.


Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

References

  1. ^ Guus Kroonen (2013) “*kalbiz-”, in Alexander Lubotsky, editor, Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 11)‎[1], Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 278

Anagrams

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch calf, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz.

Noun

calf n

  1. calf

Inflection

This noun needs an inflection-table template.

Descendants

  • Dutch: kalf
  • Limburgish: kalf

Further reading

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English cælf, Anglian form of ċealf, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz.

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Noun

calf (plural calver(e) or calveren or calves)

  2. A young cow; a bovine that has not fully matured.
  3. A representation of a calf; something that looks like a calf.
  4. A deer which hasn't fully grown.
  5. (rare, biblical) The calf in Revelation around the throne of God.
    • a. 1382, John Wycliffe, “Apocalips 4:7”, in Wycliffe's Bible:
      And the firſte beeſte lijk a lyoun; and the ſecounde beeſte lijk a calf; and the thridde beeſte hauynge a face as of a man; and the fourthe beeſte lijk an egle fleynge.
      And the first beast [was] like a lion; and the second beast [was] like a calf; and the third beast had a face like a person; and the fourth beast [was] like an eagle flying.
  6. (rare) Veal; the meat of calves.
Descendants
References

Etymology 2

From Old Norse kalfi.

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Noun

calf (plural calves)

  2. The calf (part of the leg).
Descendants
References

Old Dutch

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *kalbaz.

Noun

calf n

  1. calf

Descendants

Further reading

  • “kalf”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

Scots

Etymology 1

From Middle English calf (“young cow”).

Noun

calf

  1. Alternative form of cauf (“calf (young cow)”)

Etymology 2

From Middle English caf, caff, kaf, kaff, alternative forms of chaf.

Noun

calf

  1. Alternative form of caff
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