calf

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈkaf

ˈkäf,

dialectal also ˈkāf

plural calves ˈkavz

ˈkävz,

ˈkāvz

also calfs

often attributive

Synonyms of calf next

: 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

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Staff at the zoo in Lansing said the calf is healthy and putting on weight. —

Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2023 The calf must have weighed as much as a refrigerator. —

Longreads, 8 Mar. 2023 At 290 pounds, the male calf was born Feb. 26 at 2:27 a.m. to one of the zoo’s African elephants, Mlilo — a second-time mom. —

Jamie Landers, Dallas News, 8 Mar. 2023 Abarbanel suggests that Joshua did not know that the golden calf had been built. —

Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2023 Like its mother, the zoo said, the calf was conceived through artificial insemination, a historic first. —

The Indianapolis Star, 6 Mar. 2023 The boot fits true to size and zips up comfortably around the calf. —

Danielle Zoellner, Health, 17 Feb. 2023 The pygmy hippo calf was born in early December at the Metro Richmond facility and keepers describe her as brave, confident and spunky. —

Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2023 The calf playfully slapped the water’s surface with its fluke, and its mother joined in, helping keep time. —

Alex Pulaski, oregonlive, 11 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'calf.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of calf was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century