calf

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈkaf

ˈkäf,

dialectal also ˈkāf

plural calves ˈkavz How to pronounce calf (audio)

ˈkävz,

ˈkāvz

also calfs

often attributive

: the young of the domestic cow

also : that of a closely related mammal (such as a bison)

: the young of various large animals (such as the elephant or whale)

plural calfs : the hide of the domestic calf

especially : calfskin

: an awkward or silly youth

calflike

ˈkaf-ˌlīk

ˈkäf-

dialectal also ˈkāf-

adjective

calf

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural calves ˈkavz How to pronounce calf (audio)

ˈkävz

: the fleshy back part of the leg below the knee

The cat rubbed against her calves.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, going back to Old English cælf, plural calfur (Anglian), cealf (West Saxon), going back to Germanic *kalƀaz, *kalƀiz-, neuter s-stem (whence also Old Saxon kalf "young of a cow," Old High German kalb, Old Norse kalfr, and, from a derivative *kalƀōn-, Old High German kalba "female calf," Gothic kalbo), of uncertain origin

Note: Associated with Greek delphýs "womb," Sanskrit garbha- "womb, fetus," going back to Indo-European *g^welbhu- (see -adelphous), but the expected outcome of an ablaut form *g^wolbh-es- would be Germanic *kwalb-iz-, which does not match the attested forms.

Noun (2)

Middle English, borrowed from Old Norse kalfi "calf of the leg," going back to a Germanic source probably akin to early Modern Dutch kalf "swelling of the hand or foot," Old High German wazzerchalp "edema," German dialect Kalb "muscle"

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

单词	calf
释义	calf 1 of 2 noun (1) ˈkaf ˈkäf, dialectal also ˈkāf plural calves ˈkavz ˈkävz, ˈkāvz also calfs often attributive 1 a : the young of the domestic cow also : that of a closely related mammal (such as a bison) b : the young of various large animals (such as the elephant or whale) 2 plural calfs : the hide of the domestic calf especially : calfskin 3 : an awkward or silly youth calflike ˈkaf-ˌlīk ˈkäf- dialectal also ˈkāf- adjective calf 2 of 2 noun (2) plural calves ˈkavz ˈkävz : the fleshy back part of the leg below the knee The cat rubbed against her calves. Phrases in calf : pregnant —used of a cow Word History Etymology Noun (1) Middle English, going back to Old English cælf, plural calfur (Anglian), cealf (West Saxon), going back to Germanic kalƀaz, kalƀiz-, neuter s-stem (whence also Old Saxon kalf "young of a cow," Old High German kalb, Old Norse kalfr, and, from a derivative kalƀōn-, Old High German kalba* "female calf," Gothic kalbo), of uncertain origin Note: Associated with Greek delphýs "womb," Sanskrit garbha- "womb, fetus," going back to Indo-European g^welbhu- (see -adelphous), but the expected outcome of an ablaut form g^wolbh-es- would be Germanic kwalb-iz-, which does not match the attested forms. Noun (2) Middle English, borrowed from Old Norse kalfi* "calf of the leg," going back to a Germanic source probably akin to early Modern Dutch kalf "swelling of the hand or foot," Old High German wazzerchalp "edema," German dialect Kalb "muscle" First Known Use Noun (1) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Noun (2) 14th century, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing calf calf-love calf's-foot jelly in calf calf-love calf's-foot jelly in calf Kids Definition calf 1 of 2 noun ˈkaf ˈkäf plural calves ˈkavz, ˈkävz 1 : a young cow 2 : the young of various large animals (as the elephant, moose, or whale) calf 2 of 2 noun plural calves : the muscular back part of the leg below the knee Medical Definition calf noun ˈkaf, ˈkȧf plural calves ˈkavz, ˈkȧvz : the fleshy back part of the leg below the knee calf noun as in thigh the muscular back part of the leg below the knee Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance thigh shin shank drumstick pin ham foreleg member forelimb
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calf

noun (1)

noun (2)

Word History

Phrases Containing calf

Kids Definition

noun

noun

Medical Definition

noun

noun