Vitulus
/ˈwɪ.tʊ.lus/noun
Latin for a calf; the young of a cow.
Did you know?Vitulus is the source of English words like 'veal' and 'veal calf' through Latin’s descendants, and it shows how Roman animal terms could become everyday food language across Europe.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wet- / *wetlo-
“A young animal, especially a yearling or calf”
Latin
Latin
vitulus
“A calf, especially a young bull or heifer”
Late Latin
Latin
vitellus
“Little calf; also used for 'yolk' by metaphorical extension”
Old French
Old French
veel
“Veal; the flesh of a calf”
Middle English
English
veal
“The flesh of a calf used as food”
Modern English
English
veal
“Meat from a calf”