calamus Hear it!

calamus Definition

cala·mus (kal′ə məs)

noun pl. -·mi′-mī′

  1. sweet flag
  2. any of a genus (Calamus) of climbing palms of the Old World that yield rattan
  3. the quill of a feather

Etymology: ME < L < Gr kalamos, a stalk, reed, stubble < IE base *olem-, stalk, reed > Ger halm, L culmus

calamus Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • oil: The aromatic oil may be extracted from the rhizomes by steam distillation, and is known as calamus oil.
calamus Quotes

Hinc quam sit calamus saevior ense patet. From this it is clear how much the pen is worse than the sword.

—Burton, Robert pseudonym DemocritusJunior

Browse dictionary entries near calamus

  1. ‹ calamondin
  2. ‹ Calamity Jane
  3. ‹ calamity
  4. ‹ calamitous
  5. ‹ calamite
  6. ‹ calamint
  7. ‹ calamine
  8. ‹ calamary
  9. ‹ calamari
  10. ‹ calamander
  1. calando ›
  2. calash ›
  3. calathus ›
  4. calaverite ›
  5. CALC ›
  6. calc-sinter ›
  7. calcaneus ›
  8. calcar ›
  9. calcareous ›
  10. calcareous tufa ›