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Glite Dictionary
🤪 A foolish person 👾 A deformed creature
mooncalf

mooncalf

1 9.9
An animal or person born with a deformed body
  • noun
  • /ˈmuːnˌkæf/
  • Slur
translation icon : monstruo (despectivo)
  • Some believed that a mooncalf was a sign of misfortune and avoided encountering one during harvest.

Examples

  • In medieval times, villagers often spoke of a mooncalf born under unusual lunar conditions.

  • I hid me under the dead mooncalf's gaberdine for fear of the storm.

    The Tempest (2010)

  • The farmer was shocked to find a mooncalf among his livestock, as it appeared quite different from the others.

Surface Forms

mooncalf singular
mooncalves plural

Morphology

mooncalf = moon + calf (semi-transparent) = moon + calf

Historically used for an abnormal or deformed birth thought to be caused by the moon; the components point to a literal 'moon-related calf' but the cultural belief linking the moon to deformity is not a standard transparent rule for learners.

Etymology

The word mooncalf comes from moon and calf, where calf means 'young cow'. Long ago people believed the moon could cause odd births, so a 'mooncalf' was a deformed or abnormal animal and later any person thought to be affected by the moon.