Calf
/kæf/
nounBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meanings
Questions
Definitions
2 meanings1
A young cow or bull.
/kæf/
nounneutralBeginner
General
Young of a bovine animal
The farmer's wife bottle-fed the orphaned calf.
💡 Simply: A baby cow.
More Examples
2
Several calves grazed peacefully in the field.
How It's Used
Agriculture
"The farmer carefully examined each calf in the pasture."
Culinary
"Veal is the meat from a young calf."
2
The back part of the leg below the knee.
/kæf/
nounneutralBeginner
General
The fleshy back part of the human leg below the knee
I pulled a muscle in my calf.
💡 Simply: The muscle in the back of your lower leg.
More Examples
2
He felt a sharp pain in his right calf.
How It's Used
Anatomy
"The athlete strained his calf muscle during the race."
Tip:Imagine the shape resembling a young cow's leg.
Old English *cealf, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz. Related to Latin *calvus "bald," suggesting a possible connection to the calf's bald head.
The word 'calf' has maintained consistent usage throughout history, referring to both the young bovine and the leg muscle.