[f. CALVE + -ING1.] Of kine, etc.: The bringing forth of calves or young.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. xxx. (1495), 792. After the caluynge the hynde etyth two manere herbes.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., VIII. 66. Mete in mesure her calvyng wol advannce.
1587. Harrison, England, III. i. (1878), II. 2. A cow … which in six yeeres had sixteene calfes; that is, foure at once in three caluings, and twise twins.
a. 1854. E. Forbes, Lit. Papers, 152 (L.). Bay-whaling, a practice destructive to the cow whales about the time of calving.
b. transf. of a glacier or ice-berg.
1837. Macdougall, trans. Graah’s E. Coast Greenl., 48. An occasional report, caused by the calving of the ice-blink.
c. Comb., as calving-season, -time.
1528. Paynell, Salerne’s Regim., E ij b. Hare fleshe and hartis fleshe … best before caluing tyme.
1881. Du Chaillu, Land of Midnight Sun, II. 197. The reindeers’ calving season.
