sea calf en · NOUN
Etymology
From Middle English see calf, ultimately a calque of Latin vitulus marīnus (literally “sea calf”). Compare French veau marin and German Seekalb. See also Latin porcus marīnus (“porpoise”, literally “sea pork”), rāna marīna (“anglerfish”, literally “sea frog”), bōs marīna (“sea cow, dugong”), caballus marīnus (“seahorse”), canis marīnus (“seal”, synonym of vitulus marīnus, literally “sea dog”) and translingual Phoca vitulina (“calf-like seal, sea calf”). Equivalent to sea + calf.
Meanings
- (obsolete) Synonym of common seal (Phoca vitulina).
- (dated) the young of the manatee and dugong.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sea calves | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| seacalf | alternative | lexicographic | |
| sea-calf | alternative | lexicographic | |
| sea calfs | Number=Plur | proscribed | lexicographic |
Relateds
seaswine · sea dog · sea cow · sea horse · sea pig · sea cat · sea lion · sea hog