Calf

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /kɑːf/
• US enPR: kÇŽf, IPA: /kæf/
• Rhymes: -ɑːf
• Rhymes: -æf

From Old English cealf, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz (compare Dutch kalf, German Kalb, Danish kalv), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷolbʰo 'womb, animal young' (compare Ancient Greek (Hesychius) δολφός 'womb', Avestan garəwa 'uterus', Sanskrit गर्भ 'womb'), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- ("to swell").

Full definition of calf

Noun

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 elephant, seal or whale also used of some other animals.
4. A chunk of ice broken off of a larger glacier, ice shelf, or iceberg.
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.
• Draytonsome silly, doting, brainless calf

Synonyms

• cowling

Derived terms

• bull calf
• calfskin
• heifer calf
• kill the fatted calf

Related terms

• calve

Old Norse kalfi, possibly derived from the same Germanic root as calf ("young cow") (above).

Noun

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", Iron Man (magazine), 47 (6): 28-34.Sure, his calves are a little weak, but the rest of his physique is so overwhelming, he should place high.

Anagrams

• CLAF