calamus
Americannoun
plural
calami-
the sweet flag, Acorus calamus.
-
its aromatic root.
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any of various tropical Asian palms of the genus Calamus, some of which are a source of rattan.
-
the hollow base of a feather; a quill.
noun
-
any tropical Asian palm of the genus Calamus, some species of which are a source of rattan and canes
-
another name for sweet flag
-
the aromatic root of the sweet flag
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ornithol the basal hollow shaft of a feather; quill
Etymology
Origin of calamus
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek kálamos reed, stalk
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the garden grow "an orchard of pomegranates . . . spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense".
From The Guardian • Jan. 29, 2011
Herophilos has named after him the torcular herophili, and the name he gave the curious appearance in the floor of the fourth ventricle--the calamus scriptorius--is still retained.
From Education: How Old The New by Walsh, James J.
Along the centre of the floor is the median furrow, which terminates below in a pen-shaped form, the so-called calamus scriptorius.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 4 "Bradford, William" to "Brequigny, Louis" by Various
The instrument used for writing was a reed, sharpened and split at the point, like our pens, called calamus.
From Roman Antiquities, and Ancient Mythology For Classical Schools (2nd ed) by Dillaway, Charles K.
The cinnabaris indica, mentioned by Pliny and Dioscorides, was what is vulgarly called dragon's blood, the resin obtained from various species of the calamus palm.
From Museum of Antiquity A Description of Ancient Life by Haines, T. L. (Thomas Louis)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
