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Webster 1913 Edition

Calamus

Cal′a-mus

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Calami
(#)
.
[L., a reed. See
Halm
.]
1.
(Bot.)
The indian cane, a plant of the Palm family. It furnishes the common rattan. See
Rattan
, and
Dragon’s blood
.
2.
(Bot.)
A species of
Acorus
(
Acorus calamus
), commonly called
calamus
, or
sweet flag
. The root has a pungent, aromatic taste, and is used in medicine as a stomachic; the leaves have an aromatic odor, and were formerly used instead of rushes to strew on floors.
3.
(Zool.)
The horny basal portion of a feather; the barrel or quill.

Webster 1828 Edition

Calamus

CALAMUS

,
Noun.
1.
The generic name of the Indian cane, called also rotang. It is without branches, has a crown at the top, and is beset with spines.
2.
In antiquity, a pipe or fistula, a wind instrument, made of a reed or oaten stalk.
3.
A rush or reed used anciently as a pen to write on parchment or papyrus.
4.
A sort of reed, or sweet-scented cane, used by the Jews as a perfume. It is a knotty root, reddish without and white within, and filled with a spungy substance. It has an aromatic smell.
5.
The sweet flag, called by Linne Acorus.

Definition 2024

Calamus

Calamus

See also: calamus

Translingual

Proper noun

Calamus m

  1. A taxonomic genus within the family Sparidae – certain porgies.
  2. A taxonomic genus within the family Arecaceae – certain rattan palms.

calamus

calamus

See also: Calamus

English

Acorus calamus

Wikispecies

Noun

calamus ‎(usually uncountable, plural calamuses or calami)

  1. The sweet flag, Acorus calamus.
    • Song of Solomon 4:12-14, KJV
      A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices
  2. A quill.

Translations

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek κάλαμος ‎(kálamos).

Pronunciation

Noun

calamus m ‎(genitive calamī); second declension

  1. a reed, cane
  2. (by extension) an object made from a reed, such as a pen, arrow, or fishing rod
    • Motto of Keio University:
      Calamus gladio fortior
      The pen is mightier than the sword.
  3. (of plants) a stalk, straw, blade
  4. the hollow arm of a candelabrum

Inflection

Second declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative calamus calamī
genitive calamī calamōrum
dative calamō calamīs
accusative calamum calamōs
ablative calamō calamīs
vocative calame calamī

Derived terms

  • calamārius

Descendants

References

Etymology

From Latin calamus, from Ancient Greek κάλαμος ‎(kálamos).

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