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

Notably, his calf strain in 2021, when six to eight weeks turned into nearly five months. —Sam Blum, New York Times, 3 May 2025

And that stronger glutes, hip abductors and calf muscles can also play important roles in strengthening and stabilizing knee joints. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 May 2025

Doncic’s Lakers debut was delayed by a left calf strain. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 1 May 2025

But the Yankees had recently shown some optimism about the return of 2022 Gold Glove-winning third baseman D.J. LeMahieu, who missed all of spring training and the entire season so far with a left calf strain. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for calf

• chaff
• gaff
• graff
• graph
• haff
• half
• laugh
• raff
• staff
• staph
• autograph
• biograph

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