calf

noun

1. A young cow or bull of any bovid, such as domestic cattle or buffalo.

   “And Goldenhorns calved. A great day in the wilderness, a joy and a delight. They gave her flour-wash, and Isak himself saw to it there was no stint of flour, though he had carried it all the way himself, on his back. And there lay a pretty calf, a beauty, red-flanked like her mother, and comically bewildered at the miracle of coming into the world. In a couple of years she would be having calves of her own.”

2. Leather made of the skin of domestic calves; especially, a fine, light-coloured leather used in bookbinding.
3. The young of various animals, especially elephant, giraffe, reindeer, seal, or whale (also indiscriminately used of other animals).
4. A mass of ice broken from a larger glacier, ice shelf, or iceberg.

   “1915 (published), 1848 (first written), Elisha Kent Kane, Adrift in the Arctic Ice Pack Our swell ceases with this wind, and the floes seem disposed to come together again; but the days of winter have passed by, and the interposing calves prevent the apposition of the edges”

5. A small island, near a larger island.

   “Situated in the north of the Irish Sea and to the south-west of the isle of Man, the Calf of Man is ideally placed on the bird migration routes over the western side of the British Isles. Its importance for migrating and breeding birds had been recognised long before the observatory was established in 1959. . . Visitors can explore the Calf as day visitors or can stay in the hostel accommodation. . .”

6. A cabless railroad engine.
7. (dated, informal)An awkward or silly boy or young man; any silly person; a dolt.

   “some silly, doating, brainless calf”

8. The back of the leg below the knee.
9. The muscle in the back of the leg below the knee.

   “Sure, his calves are a little weak, but the rest of his physique is so overwhelming, he should place high.”