72 CALF 



of a bull with a human face, which may be seen roaming along the 

 margins of the curragh or currach at midniglit, but which plunges 

 into the swamp and disappears on the approach of any person. 



CALF (see also at Cow). — Aidhrine, aidhrinne, airghir, aithirne, 

 aithirni, aithrinne ; Baodhan, baoghan, beisd-mhaol (sea, see 

 seal), biorach, bioraiche ; Callach, colbthach, colbthaig, collach, 

 culhich (Ir.) ; Deghel, deoghal (suck), dorcan (one-year-old bull); 

 Falbhair, falbhan (follower), fara-laogh Tfalse), fithal ; Gabhnach, 

 gamhnach ; Laogh, laogh-bhailceach (fair), laogh-bailgionn (white- 

 bellied), laoicionn, lao'cionn, (Ir.) lee-loircean, lulagan (imitation) ; 

 Sgal, suaicein ; Torchos, torchos-breige (apparition), tulachan^ 

 tulagan, tulchan (substitute). 



Bad (first year), beefer (fed), bob (young), bulchin (bull), busk, 

 buss, bussa ; Castling (premature), cauf, caulf, cauve, cawf, cawve, 

 cealf (A. S.), coaf, cofe ; Essex lion ; Kaw, kip (overgrown), kufF, 

 kussie ; Moakie, mockie (Clydesd.) ; moggy, muthy, muthy-calf, 

 cauf, cawf, and cofe (young) ; Quaking cheat ; Staggering - bob 

 (un weaned) ; Tour kin (with another's skin on) ; Veal ; Weill, 

 wennel (weaned). 



The etymology of the term "baodhan" or "baoghan" is "the 

 happy, foolish, silly or jolly one." The word " laogh " is said to 

 be from leigh, lick (a suckling), the word "aithrinne" is derived 

 from the meaning quick or sharp against the points, i.e., the teats 

 aithe ri sine (^Rev. Celt.'). 



It is hardly necessary to remind our readers that the calf was 

 thought by the Israelites an appropriate form for an image to 

 worship, perhaps this was on account of its simplicity. It is 

 thought, perhaps on that account, lucky to see a calf for the first 

 time in the year with its face towards one, even its side portends 

 good. 



One of Cuchullin's charioteers was called Loeg, i.e., laogh, calf, 

 while in an article by Stokes, we find the expression " Core (coire ?) 

 cobthaig " rendered " a calfs caldron." Of course the calf is 

 referred to frequently in pastoral poetry; in the famous song 

 " Crodh Chailein," given hereafter, we find — 



" Gun tugadh crodh Chailein 'm bainn 'air an fhraoich 

 Gun chuman, gun bhuarach, gun laoi 'cionn, gun laogh." 



The Norse word for calf has been given, as ably told by Professor 

 MacKinnon, almost invariably as " Kalfr," to a small island near a 

 larger one, the little island being, so to speak, the calf of the big 

 one. Thus Manar-Kalfr is the calf of Man, there is also the calf 

 of Eda. Kalfr is pronounced as in English with the / silent, and 



