calves' feet
1
8.1
- noun
- /kævz fiːt/
- Many chefs appreciate the unique flavor that calves' feet add to their gourmet recipes.
Examples
-
The dish was prepared using calves' feet and seasoned broth to create a rich soup.
-
It's a mixture of calves' feet and pig snouts in gelatin.
-
It's a mixture of calves' feet and pig snouts in gelatin.
-
For the holiday feast, she made a traditional dish featuring calves' feet cooked in a savory jelly.
Surface Forms
Morphology
calves' + foot
The phrase literally combines 'calves' (plural of calf, a young cow) with 'feet' (plural of foot), so its referent — the feet of calves — is directly derivable from the parts. Although the culinary use (prepared in jelly or soups) may be a cultural detail, the basic meaning is compositionally transparent to learners who know the constituent words.
Etymology
Calves' feet names the actual calves' feet used in cooking. When boiled they make a natural 'jelly', so cooks used them to thicken 'soups' or make cold 'jellies', and today the phrase refers to that traditional food.