calf
n. countablen. the back part of your leg between the knee and the ankle. It is the soft, muscular area that helps you walk and jump.
n. the fleshy back part of the human leg between the knee and the ankle, formed by the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
My calf feels tight after that long run.
The athlete suffered a strain in her left calf during the final sprint of the race.
Stretching the calf muscles daily can prevent common injuries like Achilles tendonitis and improve overall lower body flexibility for long-distance hikers.
From Middle English calf, from Anglian Old English cælf, calf (West Saxon ċealf), from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz, further etymology unknown. Cognates
* Scots caff (“calf”) * Scots calf (“calf”) * Scots cauf (“calf”) * Scots cawf (“calf”) * North Frisian Kualev (“calf”) * North Frisian kualew (“calf”) * North Frisian kuulew (“calf”) * Saterland Frisian Koolich (“calf”) * West Frisian keal (“calf”) * German Kalb (“calf”) * Luxembourgish Kallef (“calf”) * Limburgish kalf (“calf”) * Dutch kalf (“calf”) * Vilamovian kołb (“calf”) * Vilamovian kołp (“calf”) * Faroese kálvur (“calf”) * Icelandic kálfur (“calf”) * Danish kalv (“calf”) * Norwegian Bokmål kalv (“calf”) * Norwegian Nynorsk kalv (“calf”) * Swedish kalv (“calf”)
From Middle English calf, kalf, from Old Norse kalfi, possibly derived from the same Germanic root as English calf (“young cow”) (above). Cognate with Icelandic kálfi (“calf of the leg”).
Refers to the anatomical part of the leg; also used for the young of certain large mammals like cows or whales.