Middle English Dictionary Entry
calf n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | calf n.(1) Also calv(e; (SW) kælf, kealf, kelf; (chiefly S) chalf, chalve, chauve, chelve. Pl. calver(e, calvre; calves, calfes, chalves, calvene; calver(e)n, calvrine, calfrin. |
| Etymology | A calf, cælf, pl. calferu, calfur; WS cealf, cielf, pl. calfru. Beside the historically regular pl. forms in -er, there are analogical plurals in -es, -en, and -eren. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The young of cattle, a calf; (b) veal; (c) the young of deer [cp. hert-calf, hinde-calf]; (d) with ~, in ~, bearing a calf, with calf.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1138 : Forr þe bisscopp, wass þe callf Offredd o þeȝȝre wise.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)34/559 : Þet wif..ihereð..hire kelf [Tit: calf] suken.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)37b : Þe feond..makeð feble & unstrong feat kealf [Nero: uet kelf; Recl.: fatt Chalf].
- a1300 Svmer is icumen (Hrl 978)7 : Lhouþ after calue cu.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)183 : Hit nis noht al for the calf that kow louweth.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)769 : Vn gurdei de veels: A hep of calfryn.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)49.10 : Y ne shal nouȝt taken chalues of þyn hous.
- (1377-99) Oath Bk.Colchester9 : A schep, quart. A calf, quart.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))1 Esd.6.17 : The sonus of Irael..offriden..caluys an hundrid.
- c1390 Maidstone PPs.(Vrn)155,157 : And calueren after þi precepte, Þei schul beo leyd on þin Autere; On Caluarie a calf þer crepte.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)75/11 : Ȝeue him fleisch..of smale briddis..& calues [Add: kalffes].
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Num.29.32 : The seuenthe day ȝe shulen offre calues seuen.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Heb.9.12 : Þe blood of bolys and of gayte and of caluere [L uitulorum].
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)203 : Of eche swyn, sheep, and calf [F veel], a qua. of the seller, a qua. of the beyer.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6380 : Yiff ye nat hadde herd it in my calff, Ye sholde nat a founde it a gret while.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.1063 : Keen and caluern or sheep, I al forsake.
- a1475 Cato(2) (Rwl G.59)573 : Lat the calf for the plogh encrese.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)21.11 : Many calfis, that is, the multitude of licherous folke.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)49.10 : I sall not take of thi house kalues.
b
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6341 : A Folk þere woneþ..þat eteþ noiþer cow ne chalf [LinI: kalf].
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)17 : Þan hewe fayre buttys of Calf or of Porke.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)280a/a : Þe femel [the hind]..comeþ aȝein to hire calf.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)17 : Þe first yere þat þei ben calfed, þei ben called a Calf, þe secounde yeer a bulloke and..þe vi yere an hert of x.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)109 : But if it be an hynde þat haþ hur calf in þe wode.
- c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)151 : Now wyl we speke of the hert..the fyrst yere he is a calfe, the secunde yere a broket.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)759/12 : Hic cervulus: a hertes calfe.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)280a/a : Þe hynde..goþ wiþ calue eighte monþes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)289b/b : Suche a cow is y-ioyned to þe bole to conceyve and to be wiþ calfe.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.756 : For thy kiyn in calf, hit is to drede.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)21a : Withe Calfe: fetosus.
- a1525(?1474) Cov.Leet Bk.398 : Þat he sle no bullis fflesshe..nor Cowe þat is a bullyng nor grete with Calffe.
2.
(a) ~ flesh, calve's flesh, veal; calver dong, dung of calves; ~ (calves) fot, calves grese, calves hed, calves tail, calves thigh; (b) ~ fel (skin), calves fel (skin), a calfskin; calves lether, leather from calfskin; (c) ~ clos (haue, heie, yerd), an enclosure for calves; ~ hous, a shed or barn for calves; ~ pasture, pasture for calves; (d) ~ herde, ~ knave, calves (calver) knave, herdsman who takes care of calves; -- as surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (1212) Bk.of Fees140 : Robertus Calvestail tenet sex acras terre.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1013 : Kalues fleis and flures bred..hem ðo sondes bed.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2714 : He..þam fedd wit calf flesse [Trin-C: calues flesshe].
- a1400 Þo oure lord god (Mrg M 957)320 : A typat þer hangeþ on, as a kalues taille.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.457 : Wyth calues flesshe, he fedde þe folke.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)661/35 : Caro uitulina: calfflesche.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)91a/b : Drie vlcerez..be cured wiþ wex & wiþ medulla of a calfe þye.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)38b/a : Þai ben byhouely to þis werk, as hertes marowe & calues grece.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)177b/a : Stronger þan þai ben gose grece..and after calues grece [*Ch.(1): vituline i. calfez] and swynes grece.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)25 : Take caluys fete, & skalde hem.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)37 : Take calfes fete.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)180/561 : Take than caluer dunge.
- (1469-70) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum13 : Et in j Caluishede empt' pro jantaculo gardianorum.
- c1500 Recipe MSS Hast.in HMC (Hnt HU 1051)426 : Lesche. Take to ij gangge of calvefete, halfe a gange of roder fete, and seth hem.
b
- (1398) in Black Leathersellers20 : Que nulle manere de Shepeslether ne Calveslether soit ceyne en la manere de Rolether.
- (1398) in Black Leathersellers21 : Que nul de mesme le mistier face pointz ceyntez..de Calveslether.
- (1415) Invent.Agincourt in Archaeol.7099 : Item, ij Calvis-skynnis, pris iij d.
- (1425-6) Red Paper Bk.Colchester49 : White Tawyers..leyen many diverse hides, that is to seyen, horshides, oxhides, bolehides, calvesskynnes.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4091 : His brethir gat him a calf skynn.
- (1451-2) Lin.DDoc.58/13 : Item, a hyndde calf skynne tewed and xl d. to William Ostiler.
- (1452) Proc.Privy C.6.118 : Lambeskynnes and calves skynnes..they be payeng unto us..for þe saide shorling lambeskyns and calveskyns þe subsidie called pondage.
- (1467) in Black Leathersellers32 : Shepes-felles, Lambes-felles..Calves-felles.
- (1467) in Black Leathersellers33 : Calves-lether, Shepes-lether..Lambes-lether.
- (1474) Let.Bk.Lond.L (Gldh LetBk L)117 : Item c Calve Felles, iiij d.
c
- (?1243) Doc.Kingswood in BGAS 22203 : Roger de Calfhage.
- (1334) Doc.Manor in MP 3440 : Calfpasture.
- (1353) Doc.Manor in MP 3441 : Calfyard.
- (1365-7) Doc.Manor in MP 3441 : Calfhous.
- (1367-8) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100386 : Le calfhowse..In clausura de calfclosse.
- ?c1382 Survey Hatfield in Sur.Soc.323 : Tenentes tenent inter se certas terras, videlicet, Calfhous, Swatergate, Elefbankes.
- (1407-8) Doc.Finchale in Sur.Soc.6p.cxl : Item, in empcione foeni del Calfclose.
- (1408-9) Doc.Finchale in Sur.Soc.6p.cxl : Calfeclose.
- (c1468) Deed Norris in LCRS 9314 : The Wedyrs fylde with the calf hey, 10 s.
d
- (1247) Pat.R.Hen.III496 : Adam Kalveknave.
- (1263) Pat.R.Hen.III287 : John le Kalfhirde.
- (1263) Pat.R.Hen.III298 : John le Chalfherd.
- (1284) Court R.Ramsey153 : Johannes Calueknaue.
- (1285) Feudal Aids 635 : Warinus le Calvehird.
- (1297) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms61 : Joh. le Calvehirde.
- (1301) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms61 : Elena Calfhurd. Ad. Calveknave.
- (1302-3) Doc.Manor in MP 3442 : Calfherd.
- (1310) Pat.R.Edw.II356 : Richard Calfherd.
- (1327) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms61 : Will Caluerknave. Xpiana Caluesknaue.
- (1348) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms61 : Rob. Calverknave.
- ?c1382 Survey Hatfield in Sur.Soc.32181 : Willelmus Calvehird.
- (1401) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms61 : Joh. Calfhird.
- (1445) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms61 : Thom. Calferde.
- (1472) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms61 : Will. Calverd.
3.
(a) An image or statue of a calf; (b) one of the four beasts of the Apocalypse; the symbol of Luke the Evangelist.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3549 : Here faigere ringes he boden taken..and maken An calf of gold.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)105.19 : Hij maden a chalf in Oreb & anoured þyng made wyþ fingers.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Tob.1.5 : Alle wenten to the goldene calues, the whiche Jeroboam, king of Irael, made.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.52.20 : The twelue brasene calues..that king Salamon hadde mad in the hous of the Lord.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Hos.8.5 : Samarie, thi calf is cast awey.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 7.41 : Thei maden a calf..and offriden an oost to the symylacre.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.17 : He made tweie calues [Higd.(2): calfes] of gold.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)129b/b : Þe puple fastide for þe trespas þat was j-doo in wurschipinge of þe calf in desert.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6503 : A goldin calf þar-of þai blu.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.32.8 : Thei han made to hem a ȝotun calf.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)70/35 : Kyng Roboas let make ij calueren [Eg: calfez] of gold.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)105.19 : The kalfe thai rendid; the ydol thai made.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5851,5858 : Þe þridde der þatt he þær sahh Wass inn an kallfess like, Forr þatt itt shollde tacnenn uss Lucam þe Goddspellwrihhte..& tatt wass rihht tatt callf wass sett Onȝæn þatt Goddspellwrihhte.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.4.7 : The first beest lijk to a lyon; and the secounde beest lijk to a calf.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21269 : Four ar þai tald, þe wangelistes..O þaim i sal tell..Quilk man, quilk calf [Frf: ox], quilk leon, quilk fuxul.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)261/10 : For Marke a lyon, for Mathew a man, for Luke a calfe, and for Ion an eron.
4.
(a) A seal; ~ of the se [see se-calf, in se n.(1), 1b.(b)]; (b) in plant name: calves fot, a medicinal plant, prob., the cuckoopint, also called lords-and-ladies or wake-robin (Arum maculatum).
Associated quotations
a
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)8/14 : There byne also oftyne take..Delphynes, Calvryne of þe see [L vituli marini; Trev.: see calues], and Whalles.
b
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.34v : Aron: arona .., pes vituli, iarus or jarus maior .., caluys fot, wodebane .., erbe growyng in wodys & wodyssh placis, Leuys mykel lyk dragaunce, floures & sed wonder lyk dragaunce.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)45b/a : Take of..þe roote..of iarus, i. barba aaron vel caluesfoot.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)129b/a : Þere were put to with ham þe drye rootes of lilye..of aaron i. calues foote.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)588/30 : Jarus: Cokkupyntel et Calvysfote.
5.
(a) Element in place names; (b) ?as surname [some of the examples may be AF variants of OF chauf, chauve, ML calvus bald].
Associated quotations
a
- (1166) in Hearne Liber N.Scac.(1728)217 : Jordanus Calvesterne.
- (c1170) in Mawer PNNhb.& Dur.125 : Kelflau.
- (1170-84) Pipe R.Lan442 : Et a capite sepis desuper usque ad Calfheud.
- (1227) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)363 : Cheluelega.
- (1228) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)363 : Chauveleg.
- (1235) in Ekwall Dict.EPN79 : Calvreton.
- (1271) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)42 : Chelvedon.
- (1278) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)312 : Calfhou.
- (1284) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)31 : Chalfhama.
- (1285) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)202 : Caluethwayt.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)42 : Chalvedune.
- (1316) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)202 : La Calvegarth.
- (1346) in Mawer PNNhb.& Dur.37 : Calverdon.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)331/14 : Molde Vpton..grauntid..on crofte I-callid þe caluene-crofte.
b
- (1176) in Pipe R.Soc.2527 : Ailwinus Calf.
- (c1200) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.7239 : Robertus Le Calue.
- (1219) Justice in Eyre R.in Seld.Soc.53816 : Robert Kalf.
- (1250) Bk.of Fees1178 : Radulfus Calve.
- (1279) Assize R.Nhb.in Sur.Soc.88392 : Rog. Calf.
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 16134 : Will. Calf.
- (1326) Court R.Lan.in LCRS 4176 : Alexander le Calf.
- (1346) Reg.Edw.Blk.Pr.1.4 : Adam le Calf.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)158b/b : Anoþer: take celff hele and wilde tanseye stampe it and leye it þer to.
Note: New combination for sense 4.(b).
Note: Change existent boldfaced combination calves fot to "~ hele, calves fot." (Gloss remains the same.)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1409) MSS Beverley in HMC ()100 : [All masters..shall..cover their saddles for sale; viz., housed with hides called] Salisbery-lethyr, calf-lethyr, swyn-lether, brynt-lethir [or other leather fitting].
Note: New combination for sense 2.(b).
Note: Change existent boldfaced combination calves lether to "~ (calves) lether." (Gloss remains the same.)
- ?a1525 Dc.54 Artist.Recipes (Dc 54) 264/24 : To make a whyȝt cafe skyn rede. Take .j. lagen of olde vrine and seth yt ynto halfe and scom yt well, [etc.].
Note: New form: Also..(?error) cafe.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 2.(b).