calf¹ / kaf/ • n. (pl. calves / kavz/ ) 1. a young bovine animal, esp. a domestic cow or bull in its first year. ∎  the young of some other large mammals, such as elephants, rhinoceroses, large deer and antelopes, and whales. ∎ short for calfskin.2. a floating piece of ice detached from an iceberg.PHRASES: in (or with) calf (of a cow) pregnant.kill the fatted calfsee fat.DERIVATIVES: calf·like / -ˌlīk/ adj.calf² • n. (pl. calves / kavz/ ) the fleshy part at the back of a person's leg below the knee.

calf 1 young of the cow. OE. cælf (ċealf), pl. calfru = OS. calf, OHG. chalb (G. kalb) n., beside ON. kálfr m. and Goth. kalbō, OHG. chalba fem.

calf 2 fleshy hinder part of the shank of the leg. XIV. — ON. kálfi, of unkn. orig.