calf

词源：

• n.1 "thick, fleshy part of the back of the lower human leg," early 14c., from Old Norse kalfi
• n.2 "young of a bovine [牛] animal," Old English cealf "young cow"...
• v. "to bring forth a calf or calves," Old English cealfian, from cealf "calf"

kill the fatted calf = to welcome someone home with a big meal etc after they have been away for a long time.  木兰诗 / 木兰辞

A calf (plural calves) is a young domestic cow or bull. Calves are reared to become adult cattle or are slaughtered for their meat, called veal, and hide [皮]. The term calf is also used for some other species. "Calf" is the term used from birth to weaning [断奶], when it becomes known as a weaner or weaner calf, though in some areas the term "calf" may be used until the animal is a yearling [1到2岁]. The birth of a calf is known as calving.

Calves may be produced by natural means, or by artificial breeding using artificial insemination or embryo transfer. Calves are born after nine months. They usually stand within a few minutes of calving, and suckle [喂奶] within an hour. Some calves are ear tagged soon after birth, especially those that are stud cattle in order to correctly identify their dams (mothers), or in areas (such as the EU) where tagging is a legal requirement for cattle.

A commercial steer or bull calf is expected to put on about 32 to 36 kg (71 to 79 lb) per month. Calves are usually weaned at about eight to nine months of age, but depending on the season and condition of the dam, they might be weaned earlier. At about 12 months old a beef heifer [小母牛] reaches puberty if she is well grown.

Calf meat for human consumption is called veal, and is usually produced from the male calves of Dairy cattle. Also eaten are calf's brains and calf liver. The hide is used to make calfskin, or tanned into leather and called calf leather, or sometimes in the US "novillo", the Spanish term. The fourth compartment of the stomach of slaughtered milk-fed calves is the source of rennet [凝乳]. The intestine is used to make Goldbeater's skin, and is the source of Calf Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase (CIP, 小牛肠道碱性磷酸酶).

金表值钱吗？

sheen, sheer, shin不要搞混。