calve

/kɑːv/

Etymology

From Middle English calven, from Old English *calfian, cealfian, from Proto-West Germanic *kalbōn, from Proto-Germanic *kalbōną (“to calve”), from *kalbaz (“calf”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian koolvje, Dutch kalven, German Low German kalven, German kalben, Swedish kalva, Icelandic kálfa.

calve means to give birth to a calf. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 83 out of 100.

calve is pronounced /kɑːv/.

verb

To give birth to a calf.“The farmer could tell Bessie was about to calve.”
To assist in a cow’s giving birth to a calf.“The farmer calved Bessie for almost two hours.”
To give birth to (a calf).
To shed a large piece.“The glacier was starting to calve even as we watched.”
To break off.“The sea was dangerous because of icebergs calving off the nearby glacier.”
To shed (a large piece); to set loose (a mass of ice).“The glacier was starting to calve an iceberg even as we watched.”