An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kalb

by Friedrich Kluge

Kalb, n., ‘calf,’ from the equiv. MidHG. kalp (b), OHG. chalb (plur. chalbir), n.; comp. AS. cealf, E. calf, Du. kalf, OIc. kalfr, m.; Goth. has only a fem. kalbô (OHG. chalba, MidHG. kalbe), ‘heifer over a year old that has not calved.’ MidHG. kilbere, f., OHG. chilburra, f., ‘ewe lamb,’ is in a different stage of gradation; comp. AS. cilforlamb, ‘ewe lamb,’ and ModHG. dial. Kilber (Swiss), ‘young ram,’ (E. dial. chilver). In the non-Teut. languages there is a series of words with the phonetic base glbh-, denoting ‘the young of animals.’ Comp. Sans. gárbha, ‘covey,’ also ‘child, offspring’; in the sense of ‘mother's lap’ the Ind. word suggests Gr. δελφύς, ‘womb,’ and its derivative ἀδελφός, ‘brother’; comp. also δέλφαξ, ‘pig, porker.’ To the a of the Teut. word o in Gr. δολφός ἡ μήτρα, ‘the womb,’ corresponds.