Calque definition
To make a loan translation from (a word in another language).
verb
A borrowing by which a specialized meaning of a word or phrase in one language is transferred to another language by a literal translation of each of the individual elements (Ex.: masterpiece, from German meisterstück)
noun
A word or phrase in a language formed by word-for-word or morpheme-by-morpheme translation of a word in another language.
The word "watershed" is a calque of the German "Wasserscheide".
noun
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Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
calque
Plural:
calquesOrigin of calque
- French from calquer to trace, copy from Italian calcare to press from Latin calcāre to tread on from calx heel
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Wiktionary