Calf (?), n.; pl. Calves (#). [OE. calf, kelf, AS. cealf; akin to D. kalf, G. kalb, Icel. kālfr, Sw. kalf, Dan. kalv, Goth. kalbō; 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.
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2. Leather made of the skin of the calf; especially, a fine, light-colored leather used in bookbinding; as, “to bind books in calf”.
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3. An awkward or silly boy or young man; any silly person; a dolt. [Colloq.]
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Some silly, doting, brainless calf. Drayton.
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4. A small island near a larger; as, “the Calf of Man”.
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5. A small mass of ice set free from the submerged part of a glacier or berg, and rising to the surface. Kane.
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6. [Cf. Icel. kālfi.] The fleshy hinder part of the leg below the knee.
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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.
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