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

Examples of calf in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Kempf now has a couple horses, chickens, dogs, and a new baby highland bull calf. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 May 2024

In this mile-wide basin above timberline were about 50 elk — cows, calves, young bulls, great patriarchs with brown, massive, six-point antlers tipped with ivory. —Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 2 May 2024

The bed was too small for her frame, and her calves dangled over the edge. —J Wortham January Lavoy Krish Seenivasan David Mason, New York Times, 2 May 2024

Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta star Sierra Gates got some new ink, sitting for a robust tattoo that runs from her stomach to her calf. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 16 Apr. 2024

The Kings are listing Murray as questionable due to left calf soreness, adding another layer to their injury woes with Kevin Huerter out for the season with a torn labrum and Malik Monk out for at least four weeks with a right MCL sprain. —Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024

Meet the Indianapolis Zoo's new baby rhino Before the 300-pound calf joins the exhibit this spring, the zoo is offering a meet and greet opportunity with her and her mom. —The Indianapolis Star, 9 Apr. 2024

The whale’s carcass, which had been scavenged by sharks, was pulled to shore for a necropsy and identified as a mom from the 2024 calving season, having given birth to her sixth calf this past winter. —Rebekah Riess, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

On March 3, two months after fishermen spotted it offshore from Edisto, South Carolina, with its head, mouth, and lips cut open by a boat propeller, a calf was reported dead on Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia. —John Deem, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024

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

Kids Definition

calf

1 of 2 noun

ˈkaf 

ˈkȧf

plural calves ˈkavz 

ˈkȧvz

1

a

: the young of the domestic cow

b

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

2

plural calfs : calfskin

calf

2 of 2 noun

plural calves

: the fleshy or muscular back part of the leg below the knee

Etymology

Noun

Old English cealf "young cow"

Noun

Middle English calf "part of the leg"; of Norse origin

Medical Definition

calf

noun

ˈkaf, ˈkȧf 

plural calves ˈkavz, ˈkȧvz 

: the fleshy back part of the leg below the knee