calf

calf
{{11}}calf (1) "young cow," O.E. cealf (Anglian cælf) "young cow," from W.Gmc. *kalbam (Cf. M.Du. calf, O.N. kalfr, Ger. Kalb, Goth. kalbo), perhaps from PIE *gelb(h)-, from root *gel- "to swell," hence, "womb, fetus, young of an animal." Elliptical sense of "leather made from the skin of a calf" is from 1727. Used of icebergs that break off from glaciers from 1818.
{{12}}calf (2) fleshy part of the lower leg, early 14c., from O.N. kalfi, source unknown; possibly from the same Germanic root as CALF (Cf. calf) (1).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Calf — Calf, n.; pl. {Calves}. [OE. calf, kelf, AS. cealf; akin to D. kalf, G. kalb, Icel. k[=a]lfr, Sw. kalf, Dan. kalv, Goth. kalb[=o]; cf. Skr. garbha fetus, young, Gr. ?????, Skr grabh to seize, conceive, Ir. colpa, colpach, a calf. [root]222.] 1.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • calf — [ kalf ] n. m. • 1964; abrév. de box calf ♦ Box. ⇒ 1. box. calf [kalf] n. m. ÉTYM. 1964. ❖ ♦ Abréviation de box calf. ⇒ Box calf. || « La montre à la mode, bracelet calf noir » ( …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Calf — steht für Anthony Calf (* 1959), britischer Schauspieler Baby Calf, Ledersorte Siehe auch Calf Island Calf Lake Kalf Calw …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • calf — calf; calf·hood; calf·kill; calf·less; calf·skin; …   English syllables

  • calf — [ka:f US kæf] n plural calves [ka:vz US kævz] [Sense: 1; Date: 1300 1400; : Old Norse; Origin: kalfi] [Sense: 2 3; Origin: Old English cealf] 1.) the part of the back of your leg between your knee and your ↑ankle …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • calf — calf1 [kaf, käf] n. pl. calves or, esp. for 4, calfs [ME < OE cealf & ON kalfr < IE * geleb(h) < base * gel , to swell, form a ball (hence swelling, fetus, offspring) > CLUB, L globus] 1. a young cow or bull 2. the young of some other …   English World dictionary

  • Calf — [kalf, engl. kɑ:f] das; s <aus engl. calf »Kalb«> Kalbsleder, das bes. zum Einbinden von Büchern verwendet wird …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • calf — [n1] leg between knee and ankle foreleg, shin; concept 392 calf [n2] baby cow dogie, freemartin, heifer, maverick, veal, yearling, young bull, young cow; concept 394 …   New thesaurus

  • calf — Ⅰ. calf [1] ► NOUN (pl. calves) 1) a young bovine animal, especially a domestic cow or bull in its first year. 2) the young of some other large mammals, such as elephants. 3) a floating piece of ice detached from an iceberg. ORIGIN Old English. Ⅱ …   English terms dictionary

  • Calf —    CALF, an island, in the parish of Kilninian and Kilmore, district of Mull, county of Argyll. This island, which is of extremely small extent, lies off Tobermory, in the north eastern part of the parish, and is in that portion of the Sound of… …   A Topographical dictionary of Scotland

  • calf — [ kæf ] (plural calves [ kævz ] ) noun count * 1. ) a young cow. Its meat is called veal. a ) a young animal such as a young elephant, WHALE, or GIRAFFE 2. ) the thick back part of your leg between your knee and your ANKLE …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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