"calf" meaning in Middle English

See calf in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /kalf/, /t͡ʃalf/ (note: East Saxon, Southern, Southwest Midland) Forms: calvere [plural], calveren [plural], calves [plural], calfe [alternative], kalf [alternative], kealf [alternative], kelf [alternative], callf [alternative, Ormulum], chalf [alternative]
Etymology: From Anglian Old English calf, cælf (West Saxon ċealf), from Proto-West Germanic *kalb, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz. Etymology templates: {{inh|enm|ang-ang|calf}} Anglian Old English calf, {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*kalb}} Proto-West Germanic *kalb, {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*kalbaz}} Proto-Germanic *kalbaz Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=}} calf, {{enm-noun|pl=calvere|pl2=calveren|pl3=calves}} calf (plural calvere or calveren or calves)
  1. A calf (young cow)
    Sense id: en-calf-enm-noun-enm:calf__young_cow_
  2. An image of a calf; something that resembles a calf.
    Sense id: en-calf-enm-noun-afqdusg6
  3. A fawn (young deer)
    Sense id: en-calf-enm-noun-IsOV~tis
  4. (rare) Veal; the meat of calves. Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-calf-enm-noun-DfbbVlGr Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Anatomy, Baby animals, Bovines, Mammals, Meats Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 4 20 13 59 4 Disambiguation of Anatomy: 18 20 18 25 18 Disambiguation of Baby animals: 6 23 6 57 6 Disambiguation of Bovines: 12 21 7 52 7 Disambiguation of Mammals: 6 18 18 52 6 Disambiguation of Meats: 6 17 6 66 6
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 1 Categories (other): Livestock Disambiguation of Livestock: 0 0 0 0 0

Noun

IPA: /ˈkalf(ə)/ Forms: calves [plural], calfe [alternative]
Etymology: From Old Norse kalfi. Etymology templates: {{bor|enm|non|kalfi}} Old Norse kalfi Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=}} calf, {{enm-noun|pl=calves}} calf (plural calves)
  1. calf (part of the leg).
    Sense id: en-calf-enm-noun-enm:calf__anatomy_
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2 Categories (other): Livestock Disambiguation of Livestock: 0 0 0 0 0

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "categories": [
    {
      "_dis": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "kind": "other",
      "langcode": "enm",
      "name": "Livestock",
      "orig": "enm:Livestock",
      "parents": [],
      "source": "w+disamb"
    }
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "calf"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "cauf"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "cawf"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "caff"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "calf"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "calf"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "cauf"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "cawf"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "caff"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "calf"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "cawf"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Yola",
      "lang_code": "yol",
      "word": "callef"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Yola",
      "lang_code": "yol",
      "word": "calef"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Yola",
      "lang_code": "yol",
      "word": "calluf"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang-ang",
        "3": "calf"
      },
      "expansion": "Anglian Old English calf",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*kalb"
      },
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    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*kalbaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *kalbaz",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Anglian Old English calf, cælf (West Saxon ċealf), from Proto-West Germanic *kalb, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "calvere",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "calveren",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "calves",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "calfe",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "kalf",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "kealf",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "kelf",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "callf",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Ormulum"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chalf",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
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        "sort": ""
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      "expansion": "calf",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "pl": "calvere",
        "pl2": "calveren",
        "pl3": "calves"
      },
      "expansion": "calf (plural calvere or calveren or calves)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              68,
              72
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              73,
              77
            ]
          ],
          "english": "And the first beast [was] like a lion; and the second beast [was] like a calf; and the third beast had a face like a human; and the fourth beast [was] like an eagle flying.",
          "ref": "c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Apocalips 4:7, folio 118, verso, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:",
          "text": "⁊ þe firſte beeſte .· liyk a lioun / ⁊ þe ſecounde beeſte .· lijk a calf / ⁊ þe þꝛidde beeſte .· hauynge a face as of a man / ⁊ þe fourþe beeſte .· liyk an egle fleynge",
          "translation": "And the first beast [was] like a lion; and the second beast [was] like a calf; and the third beast had a face like a human; and the fourth beast [was] like an eagle flying.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A calf (young cow)"
      ],
      "id": "en-calf-enm-noun-enm:calf__young_cow_",
      "links": [
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          "calf",
          "calf#English"
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        [
          "young",
          "young#English"
        ],
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          "cow",
          "cow#English"
        ]
      ],
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        "An image of a calf; something that resembles a calf."
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      "id": "en-calf-enm-noun-afqdusg6",
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          "image",
          "image"
        ],
        [
          "calf",
          "calf#English"
        ],
        [
          "resemble",
          "resemble"
        ],
        [
          "calf",
          "calf#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
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        "A fawn (young deer)"
      ],
      "id": "en-calf-enm-noun-IsOV~tis",
      "links": [
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          "fawn"
        ],
        [
          "young",
          "young#English"
        ],
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          "deer",
          "deer#English"
        ]
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    },
    {
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          "_dis": "4 20 13 59 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
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          "_dis": "18 20 18 25 18",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Anatomy",
          "orig": "enm:Anatomy",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 23 6 57 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Baby animals",
          "orig": "enm:Baby animals",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 21 7 52 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Bovines",
          "orig": "enm:Bovines",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 18 18 52 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Mammals",
          "orig": "enm:Mammals",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 17 6 66 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Meats",
          "orig": "enm:Meats",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Veal; the meat of calves."
      ],
      "id": "en-calf-enm-noun-DfbbVlGr",
      "links": [
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          "veal"
        ],
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          "meat"
        ],
        [
          "calves",
          "calf#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) Veal; the meat of calves."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/kalf/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/t͡ʃalf/",
      "note": "East Saxon, Southern, Southwest Midland"
    }
  ],
  "word": "calf"
}

{
  "categories": [
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      "_dis": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "kind": "other",
      "langcode": "enm",
      "name": "Livestock",
      "orig": "enm:Livestock",
      "parents": [],
      "source": "w+disamb"
    }
  ],
  "descendants": [
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      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "calf"
    },
    {
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      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "cauf"
    }
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  "etymology_number": 2,
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        "2": "non",
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      },
      "expansion": "Old Norse kalfi",
      "name": "bor"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old Norse kalfi.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "calves",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "calfe",
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      "name": "head"
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    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "calf (part of the leg)."
      ],
      "id": "en-calf-enm-noun-enm:calf__anatomy_",
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          "calf#English"
        ]
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  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈkalf(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "calf"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms borrowed from Old Norse",
    "Middle English terms derived from Anglian Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old Norse",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Anglian Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Middle English z-stem nouns",
    "Pages with 6 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
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  "descendants": [
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          "word": "cauf"
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      },
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    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Anglian Old English calf, cælf (West Saxon ċealf), from Proto-West Germanic *kalb, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz.",
  "forms": [
    {
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        "plural"
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      "form": "kalf",
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    },
    {
      "form": "kealf",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "kelf",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "callf",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Ormulum"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chalf",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
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    {
      "args": {
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        "pl3": "calves"
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  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              68,
              72
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              73,
              77
            ]
          ],
          "english": "And the first beast [was] like a lion; and the second beast [was] like a calf; and the third beast had a face like a human; and the fourth beast [was] like an eagle flying.",
          "ref": "c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Apocalips 4:7, folio 118, verso, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:",
          "text": "⁊ þe firſte beeſte .· liyk a lioun / ⁊ þe ſecounde beeſte .· lijk a calf / ⁊ þe þꝛidde beeſte .· hauynge a face as of a man / ⁊ þe fourþe beeſte .· liyk an egle fleynge",
          "translation": "And the first beast [was] like a lion; and the second beast [was] like a calf; and the third beast had a face like a human; and the fourth beast [was] like an eagle flying.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A calf (young cow)"
      ],
      "links": [
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          "calf",
          "calf#English"
        ],
        [
          "young",
          "young#English"
        ],
        [
          "cow",
          "cow#English"
        ]
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "enm:calf (young cow)"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "An image of a calf; something that resembles a calf."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "image",
          "image"
        ],
        [
          "calf",
          "calf#English"
        ],
        [
          "resemble",
          "resemble"
        ],
        [
          "calf",
          "calf#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A fawn (young deer)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "fawn",
          "fawn"
        ],
        [
          "young",
          "young#English"
        ],
        [
          "deer",
          "deer#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Veal; the meat of calves."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Veal",
          "veal"
        ],
        [
          "meat",
          "meat"
        ],
        [
          "calves",
          "calf#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) Veal; the meat of calves."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/kalf/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/t͡ʃalf/",
      "note": "East Saxon, Southern, Southwest Midland"
    }
  ],
  "word": "calf"
}

{
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    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms borrowed from Old Norse",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old Norse",
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    "Pages with 6 entries",
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    "enm:Baby animals",
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  "descendants": [
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  ],
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    {
      "args": {
        "pl": "calves"
      },
      "expansion": "calf (plural calves)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "calf (part of the leg)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "calf",
          "calf#English"
        ]
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "enm:calf (anatomy)"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈkalf(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "calf"
}

Download raw JSONL data for calf meaning in Middle English (5.9kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-05-20 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-05-01 using wiktextract (e973cf0 and ae80fde). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.