sea calf

See also: seacalf and sea-calf

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English see calf, ultimately a calque of Latin vitulus marīnus (“sea calf”). Compare French veau marin and German Seekalb. See also, among others, English sea lion, sea cat, 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”).

Noun

sea calf (plural sea calves or (proscribed) sea calfs)

  1. (obsolete) A common seal (Phoca vitulina).
    Synonyms: common seal, harbor seal
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