cealf

cealf

Old English

Alternative forms

• cælf (Anglian)

Etymology

From earlier *kealb, from Anglo-Frisian *kælb, from West Germanic *kalb, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷolbʰo- (“womb, animal young”). Compare Old Saxon and Old Dutch kalf (Low German Kalf, Dutch kalf), West Frisian keal, Old High German kalb (German Kalb), Old Norse kalfr (Danish kalv, Icelandic kálfur).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃæɑ̯lf/, [ˈt͡ʃæɑ̯ɫf]

Noun

ċealf n

1. (West Saxon) calf (young bovine)

Declension

Declension of cealf (strong z-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	ċealf	ċealfru
accusative	ċealf	ċealfru
genitive	ċealfes	ċealfra
dative	ċealfe	ċealfrum

Descendants

• Middle English: calf, chalve, chelve, chalf, kelf
  • English: calf
  • Scots: cawf, cauf