calf
EnglishEdit
PronunciationEdit
- (Received Pronunciation) enPR: käf, IPA(key): /kɑːf/
- (General American, Canada) enPR: kăf, IPA(key): /kæf/
Audio (US) (file)
- (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /kɐːf/
- (Northern England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland) IPA(key): /kaf/
- Rhymes: -ɑːf, -æf
Etymology 1Edit
From Middle English calf, kælf, kelf, from Old English cælf, ċealf; also cognate with German Kalb (“calf”), Dutch kalf (“calf”) and Danish kalv (“calf”), from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz, further etymology unknown[1].
NounEdit
calf (plural calves or (nonstandard) 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 deer, elephant, seal, whale or giraffe (also used of some other animals).
- A chunk 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
- 1915 (published), 1848 (first written), Elisha Kent Kane, Adrift in the Arctic Ice Pack
- 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.
- 1627, Michael Drayton, Nimphidia, the Court of Faery
- some silly, doating, brainless calf
- 1627, Michael Drayton, Nimphidia, the Court of Faery
SynonymsEdit
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
See alsoEdit
Etymology 2Edit
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”).
NounEdit
calf (plural calves)
- (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.
Derived termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
ReferencesEdit
AnagramsEdit
Middle DutchEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Old Dutch calf, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz.
NounEdit
calf n
InflectionEdit
This noun needs an inflection-table template.
DescendantsEdit
Further readingEdit
- “calf”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
- Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929), “calf”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN
Middle EnglishEdit
Etymology 1Edit
From Old English cælf, Anglian form of ċealf, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz.
Alternative formsEdit
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
calf (plural calver(e) or calveren or calves)
- calf (cow that has not fully matured)
- c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)[1], published c. 1410, Apocalips 4:7, page 118v, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:
- ⁊ þe firſte beeſte .· liyk a lioun / ⁊ þe ſecounde beeſte .· lijk a calf / ⁊ þe þꝛidde beeſte .· hauynge a face as of a man / ⁊ þe fourþe beeſte .· liyk 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 human; and the fourth beast [was] like an eagle flying.
- A representation of a calf; something that looks like a calf.
- fawn (deer that has not fully matured)
- (rare) Veal; the meat of calves.
DescendantsEdit
ReferencesEdit
- “calf, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-17.
Etymology 2Edit
Alternative formsEdit
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
calf (plural calves)
- calf (part of the leg).
DescendantsEdit
ReferencesEdit
- “calf, n.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-17.
Old DutchEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Proto-Germanic *kalbaz.
NounEdit
calf n
DescendantsEdit
Further readingEdit
- “kalf”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012
ScotsEdit
Etymology 1Edit
From Middle English calf (“young cow”).
NounEdit
calf
- Alternative form of cauf (“calf (young cow)”)
Etymology 2Edit
From Middle English caf, caff, kaf, kaff, alternative forms of chaf.
NounEdit
calf
- Alternative form of caff