Part 16

Cal"am*bour (kăl"ăm*b&oomac;r), n. [See Calambac.] A species of agalloch, or aloes wood, of a dusky or mottled color, of a light, friable texture, and less fragrant than calambac; -- used by cabinetmakers.

Cal`a*mif"er*ous (?), a. [L. calamus reed + ferous.] Producing reeds; reedy.

Cal"a*mine (kăl"&adot;*mīn or - m&ibreve;n), n. [F. calamine, LL. calamina, fr. L. Cadmia. See Cadmia.] (min.) A mineral, the hydrous silicate of zinc.

&fist; The name was formerly applied to both the carbonate and silicate of zinc each of which is valuabic as an ore; but it is now usually restricted to the latter, the former being called smithsonite.

Cal"a*mint (-m&ibreve;nt), n. [OE. calamint, calemente (cf. F. calament) fr. L. calamintha, Gr. kalami`nqh, kala`minqos. See 1st Mint.] (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants (Calamintha) of the Mint family, esp. the C. Nepeta and C. Acinos, which are called also basil thyme.

Cal"a*mist (-m&ibreve;st), n. [L. calamus a reed.] One who plays upon a reed or pipe. [Obs.] Blount.

Cal`a*mis"trate (-m&ibreve;s"trāt), v. i. [L. calamistratus, curled with the curling iron, fr. calamistrum curling iron, fr. calamus a reed.] To curl or friz, as the hair. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Cal`a*mis*tra"tion (kăl`&adot;*m&ibreve;s*trā"shŭn), n. The act or process of curling the hair. [Obs.] Burton.

||Cal`a*mis"trum (?), n. [L., a curling iron.] (Zo÷l.) A comblike structure on the metatarsus of the hind legs of certain spiders (CiniflonidŠ), used to curl certain fibers in the construction of their webs.

Cal"a*mite (?), n. [L. calamus a reed: cf. F. calamite.] (Paleon.) A fossil plant of the coal formation, having the general form of plants of the modern Equiseta (the Horsetail or Scouring Rush family) but sometimes attaining the height of trees, and having the stem more or less woody within. See Acrogen, and Asterophyllite.

Ca*lam"i*tous (?), a. [L. Calamitosus; cf. F. calamiteux.]

1. Suffering calamity; wretched; miserable. [Obs.]

Ten thousands of calamitous persons. South.

2. Producing, or attended with distress and misery; making wretched; wretched; unhappy. "This sad and calamitous condition." South. "A calamitous prison" Milton.

Syn. -- Miserable; deplorable; distressful; afflictive; wretched; grievous; baleful; disastrous; adverse; unhappy; severe; sad; unfortunate.

-- Ca*lam"i*tous*ly, adv. -- Ca*lam"i*tous*ness, n.

Ca*lam"i*ty (?) n.; pl. Calamities (#). [L. calamitas, akin to in-columis unharmed: cf. F. calamitÚ] 1. Any great misfortune or cause of misery; -- generally applied to events or disasters which produce extensive evil, either to communities or individuals.

The word calamity was first derived from calamus when the corn could not get out of the stalk. Bacon.

Strokes of calamity that scathe and scorch the soul. W. Irving.

2. A state or time of distress or misfortune; misery.

The deliberations of calamity are rarely wise. Burke.

Where'er I came I brought calamity. Tennyson.

Syn. -- Disaster; distress; affliction; adversity; misfortune; unhappiness; infelicity; mishap; mischance; misery; evil; extremity; exigency; downfall. -- Calamity, Disaster, Misfortune, Mishap, Mischance. Of these words, calamity is the strongest. It supposes a somewhat continuous state, produced not usually by the direct agency of man, but by natural causes, such as fire, flood, tempest, disease, etc, Disaster denotes literally ill-starred, and is some unforeseen and distressing event which comes suddenly upon us, as if from hostile planet. Misfortune is often due to no specific cause; it is simply the bad fortune of an individual; a link in the chain of events; an evil independent of his own conduct, and not to be charged as a fault. Mischance and mishap are misfortunes of a trivial nature, occurring usually to individuals. "A calamity is either public or private, but more frequently the former; a disaster is rather particular than private; it affects things rather than persons; journey, expedition, and military movements are often attended with disasters; misfortunes are usually personal; they immediately affect the interests of the individual." Crabb.

Cal"a*mus (?), n.; 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 (A. 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. (Zo÷l.) The horny basal portion of a feather; the barrel or quill.

||Ca*lan"do (?), a. [It.] (Mus.) Gradually diminishing in rapidity and loudness.

Ca*lash" (?), n. [F. calŔche; of Slavonic origin; cf. Bohem. kolesa, Russ. koliaska calash, koleso, kolo, wheel.] 1. A light carriage with low wheels, having a top or hood that can be raised or lowered, seats for inside, a separate seat for the driver, and often a movable front, so that it can be used as either an open or a close carriage.