/kav, kahv/ , v. , calved, calving .
v.i.
1. to give birth to a calf: The cow is expected to calve tomorrow.
2. (of a glacier, an iceberg, etc.) to break up or splinter so as to produce a detached piece.
v.t.
3. to give birth to (a calf).
4. (of a glacier, an iceberg, etc.) to break off or detach (a piece): The glacier calved an iceberg.
[ bef. 1000; ME calven, OE (Anglian) * calfian, deriv. of calf CALF 1 ; c. OE (West Saxon) cealfian ]