Cal`i*pash" (?), n. [F. carapace, Sp. carapacho. Cf Calarash, Carapace.] A part of a turtle which is next to the upper shell. It contains a fatty and gelatinous substance of a dull greenish tinge, much esteemed as a delicacy in preparations of turtle.
Cal"i*pee (?), n. [See Calipash] A part of a turtle which is attached to the lower shell. It contains a fatty and gelatinous substance of a light yellowish color, much esteemed as a delicacy. Thackeray.
Cal"i*pers (?), n. pl. [Corrupted from caliber.] An instrument, usually resembling a pair of dividers or compasses with curved legs, for measuring the diameter or thickness of bodies, as of work shaped in a lathe or planer, timber, masts, shot, etc.; or the bore of firearms, tubes, etc.; -- called also caliper compasses, or caliber compasses.
Caliper square, a draughtsman's or mechanic's square, having a graduated bar and adjustable jaw or jaws. Knight. -- Vernier calipers. See Vernier.
Ca"liph (kā"l&ibreve;f), n. [OE. caliphe, califfe, F. calife (cf. Sp. califa), fr. Ar. khalīfan successor, fr. khalafa to succed.] Successor or vicar; -- a title of the successors of Mohammed both as temporal and spiritual rulers, now used by the sultans of Turkey. [Written also calif.]
Cal"i*phate (?), n. [Cf. F. califat.] The office, dignity, or government of a caliph or of the caliphs.
Ca*lip"pic (?), a. Of or pertaining to Calippus, an Athenian astronomer.
Calippic period, a period of seventy-six years, proposed by Calippus, as an improvement on the Metonic cycle, since the 6940 days of the Metonic cycle exceeded 19 years by about a quarter of a day, and exceeded 235 lunations by something more.
Cal`i*sa"ya bark (?). A valuable kind of Peruvian bark obtained from the Cinchona Calisaya, and other closely related species.
||Cal`is*the"ne*um, n. [NL.] A gymnasium; esp. one for light physical exercise by women and children.
Cal`is*then"ic (?), a. [Gr. kalo`s beautiful + sqe`nos strength.] Of or pertaining to calisthenics.
Cal`is*then"ics (?), n. The science, art, or practice of healthful exercise of the body and limbs, to promote strength and gracefulness; light gymnastics.
Cal"i*ver (?), n. [Corrupted fr. caliber.] An early form of hand gun, a variety of the arquebus; originally a gun having a regular size of bore. [Obs.] Shak.
||Ca"lix (kā"l&ibreve;ks), n. [L.] A cup. See Calyx.
Calk (k&add;k), v. t. [imp. &p. p. Calked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Calking.] [Either corrupted fr. F. calfater (cf. Pg. calafetar, Sp. calafetear), fr. Ar. qalafa to fill up crevices with the fibers of palm tree or moss; or fr. OE. cauken to tred, through the French fr. L. calcare, fr. calx heel. Cf. Calk to copy, Inculcate.] 1. To drive tarred oakum into the seams between the planks of (a ship, boat, etc.), to prevent leaking. The calking is completed by smearing the seams with melted pitch.
2. To make an indentation in the edge of a metal plate, as along a seam in a steam boiler or an iron ship, to force the edge of the upper plate hard against the lower and so fill the crevice.
Calk (kălk), v. t. [E. calquer to trace, It. caicare to trace, to trample, fr. L. calcare to trample, fr. calx heel. Cf. Calcarate.] To copy, as a drawing, by rubbing the back of it with red or black chalk, and then passing a blunt style or needle over the lines, so as to leave a tracing on the paper or other thing against which it is laid or held. [Written also calque]
Calk (k&add;k), n. [Cf. AS. calc shoe, hoof, L. calx, calcis, heel, calcar, spur.] 1. A sharp-pointed piece of iron or steel projecting downward on the shoe of a horse or an ox, to prevent the animal from slipping; -- called also calker, calkin.
2. An instrument with sharp points, worn on the sole of a shoe or boot, to prevent slipping.
Calk (k&add;k), v. i. 1. To furnish with calks, to prevent slipping on ice; as, to calk the shoes of a horse or an ox.
2. To wound with a calk; as when a horse injures a leg or a foot with a calk on one of the other feet.
Calk"er (?), n. 1. One who calks.
2. A calk on a shoe. See Calk, n., 1.
Calk"in (?), n. A calk on a shoe. See Calk, n., 1.
Calk"ing (?), n. The act or process of making seems tight, as in ships, or of furnishing with calks, as a shoe, or copying, as a drawing.
Calking iron, a tool like a chisel, used in calking ships, tightening seams in ironwork, etc.
Their left hand does the calking iron guide. Dryden.
Call (k&add;l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Called (k&add;ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Calling] [OE. callen, AS. ceallian; akin to Icel. & Sw. kalla, Dan. kalde, D. kallen to talk, prate, OHG. kallōn to call; cf. Gr. ghry`ein to speak, sing, Skr. gar to praise. Cf. Garrulous.] 1. To command or request to come or be present; to summon; as, to call a servant.
The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section C · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.