calve

verb

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.

1. To give birth to a calf.

   “The farmer could tell Bessie was about to calve.”

2. To assist in a cow’s giving birth to a calf.

   “The farmer calved Bessie for almost two hours.”

3. To give birth to (a calf).
4. To shed a large piece.

   “The glacier was starting to calve even as we watched.”

5. To break off.

   “The sea was dangerous because of icebergs calving off the nearby glacier.”

6. To shed (a large piece); to set loose (a mass of ice).

   “The glacier was starting to calve an iceberg even as we watched.”