calf
calf
/kɑːf/
(plural calves /kɑːvz/ /kævz/)
1 countable the back part of the leg between the ankle and the knee I've torn a calf muscle.
The calves are grazed intensively during their first season.
These calves are reared for beef.
Collocations
adjective
verb + calf
calf + verb
3 countable a young animal of some other type such as a young elephant or whale 4 uncountable (also calfskin) soft thin leather made from the skin of calves, used especially for making shoes and clothing Idioms
Word Origin
senses 2 to 4 Old English cælf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kalf and German Kalb.
sense 1 Middle English: from Old Norse kálfi, of unknown origin.