1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Heifer

HEIFER, a young cow that has not calved. The O. Eng. heahfore or heafru, from which the word is derived, is of obscure origin. It is found in Bede’s History (A.D. 900) as heahfore, and has passed through many forms. It is possibly derived from heah, high, and faren (fare), to go, meaning “high-stepper.” It has also been suggested that the derivation is from hea, a stall, and fore, a cow.