Calf (?), n.; pl. Calves (#). [OE. calf, kelf, AS. cealf; akin to D. kalf, G. kalb, Icel. kalfr, Sw. kalf, Dan. kalv, Goth. kalbo; cf. Skr. garbha fetus, young, Gr. , Skr grabh to seize, conceive, Ir. colpa, colpach, a calf. 222.]
1.
The young of the cow, or of the Bovine family of quadrupeds. Also, the young of some other mammals, as of the elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, and whale.
2.
Leather made of the skin of the calf; especially, a fine, light-colored leather used in bookbinding; as, to bind books in calf.
3.
An awkward or silly boy or young man; any silly person; a dolt.
[Colloq.]
Some silly, doting, brainless calf.
Drayton.
4.
A small island near a larger; as, the Calf of Man.
5.
A small mass of ice set free from the submerged part of a glacier or berg, and rising to the surface.
Kane.
6. [Cf. Icel. kalfi.]
The fleshy hinder part of the leg below the knee.
Calf's-foot jelly, jelly made from the feet of calves. The gelatinous matter of the feet is extracted by boiling, and is flavored with sugar, essences, etc.
© Webster 1913.