ˈsea-calf
[calf1.]
A common name for the seal, esp. the common seal, Phoca vitulina. [So med.L. vitulus marinus, F. veau marin, G. seekalb.]
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 13 Þere beeþ ofte i-take dolphyns, and see calues [orig. vituli marini], and baleynes. 1558 Gesner Hist. Anim. iv. 831 Angli etiam nominant a Sea caulfe: uel Seele. 1563 T. Hill Art Garden. (1593) 26 Some also hang..the skinne of the Sea-Calfe in the middle of the garden..as a prooued defence to it against tempestes. 1668 H. More Div. Dial. ii. i. (1713) 89 The playing of two Sea-Calves before a Storm. 1880 Standard 20 May 3 The ‘sea calves’ of the North Atlantic are solely ‘hair seals’. |
| attrib. c 1440 tr. Pallad. on Husb. i. 961 A seecalf skyn. |
b. allusively.
| 1755 J. Shebbeare Lydia (1769) II. 67 You grow pert, madam, since you have caught your sea-calf. 1883 Stevenson Treas. Isl. viii, ‘Why what a precious old sea-calf I am!’ he said. |