Meanings
alternative calf-flesh · alternative calf flesh
- nonstandarduncountableThe meat or flesh of a calf; veal.
[…] and also very often eat man beefsteaks or calfflesh. [Note: This text is deliberately imitating a non-native speaker of English for comic effect.]
1899, Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Punch2 more examples
The calf should be allowed to suckle or to be fed from the pail for six or eight months. It has then strength to stand weaning, and, if properly cared for, will not be checked in its growth, and it will retain the good calfflesh it has put on.
1875, William M'Combie, Cattle and cattle-breedersCalf flesh possesses a distinctive odour. While it is, by some manufacturers, largely substituted for chicken in the manufacture of ham, chicken, and tongue, other substitutions for veal are rarely practised [...]
1902, Thomas Walley, A practical guide to meat inspectionSynonyms: calfmeat
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe meat or flesh of a calf; veal.
Origin
- Middle Englishcalfflesch
- Englishcalfflesh
From Middle English calfflesch, equivalent to calf + flesh. Compare Dutch kalfsvlees (“veal”), German Kalbfleisch (“veal”).
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
calfflesh. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/calfflesh
“calfflesh.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/calfflesh. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “calfflesh,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/calfflesh.
Source: calfflesh on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.