LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinesecond declension

calamus

calamus m (genitive calamī)
Classical[ˈka.ɫa.mʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈkaː.la.mus]
Mille Verba core vocabulary

Meaning

  1. masculinea reed, cane
  2. broadlymasculinean object made from a reed, such as a reed pen, arrow, or fishing rod
    Calamus gladio fortiorThe pen is mightier than the sword.Motto of Keio University
  3. masculinea stalk, straw, blade
  4. masculinethe hollow arm of a candelabrum
  5. masculinea whistle or musical pipe; sometimes specifically a blown pipe with tone holes

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

herba dūra fluviī, quā in chartā scrībimus.
calamus -ī m — in Mille Verba, Artēs et Litterae

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Culmus · Calamus · Stipula · Spica · Arista · Arundo · Canna

1. Culmus means the stalk, with reference to its slender height, especially of corn; calamus (κάλαμος) with reference to its hollowness, especially of reeds. 2. Culmus means the stalk of corn, as bearing the ear, as the body the head, as an integral part of the whole; stipula, as being compared with the ear, a worthless and useless part of the whole, as stubble. 3. Spica is the full ear, the fruit of the corn-stalk, without respect to its shape, arista, the prickly ear, the tip or uppermost part of the stalk, without respect to its substance, sometimes merely the prickles. Quintil. i. 3, 5. Imitatæ spicas herbulæ inanibus aristis ante messem flavescunt. 4. Calamus, as a reed, is the general term; arundo (from ῥοδανός) is a longer and stronger reed; canna (from κανών?) a smaller and thinner reed. Colum. iv. 32. Ea est arundineti senectus, cum ita densatum est, ut gracilis et cannæ similis arundo prodeat. (v. 219.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativecalamuscalamī
genitivecalamīcalamōrum
dativecalamōcalamīs
accusativecalamumcalamōs
ablativecalamōcalamīs
vocativecalamecalamī

călămus, i, m., = κάλαμος.
I. Lit., a reed, cane (pure Lat. harundo; cf. canna), Plin. 16, 36, 65, § 159 sq.; 16, 21, 33, § 80; Col. 3, 15, 1; 4, 4, 1; Pall. Nov. 22, 3 al.: aromaticus (found in Syria and Arabia), sweet calamus, Col. 12, 52, 2: odoratus, Plin. 12, 22, 48, § 104; Veg. 6, 13, 3.—Also absol.: calamus, Cato, R. R. 105, 2; Plin. 13, 1, 2, § 8 sq.: Syriacus, Veg. 4, 13, 4.—
II. Meton.
A. For objects made of reeds (cf. harundo, and Liddell and Scott, under κάλαμος).
1. A reed-pen (cf. Dict. of Antiq.; class.): quicumque calamus in manus meas inciderit, eo utar tamquam bono, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 14 (15 b), 1: sumere, id. Att. 6, 8, 1: calamo et atramento militare, Cato ap. Ruf. p. 199: quoad intinguntur calami, Quint. 10, 3, 31: transversus, Hor. A. P. 447: scriptorius, Cels. 7, 11; 7, 27; Scrib. 10, 47.—
2. A reed-pipe, reed (cf. Lucr. 5, 1380 sq.; the form is described in Tib. 2, 5, 32; Ov. M. 1, 711): unco saepe labro calamos percurrit hiantes, with curved lip runs over the open reeds, Lucr. 4, 590; 5, 1382; 5, 1407; Verg. E. 2, 34; 5, 48; 1, 10; 2, 32; 5, 2; Cat. 63, 22; Prop. 3 (4), 17, 34; 4 (5), 1, 24; Ov. M. 11, 161 al.—
3. An arrow: hastas et calami spicula Gnosii, Hor. C. 1, 15, 17; Verg. E. 3, 13; Prop. 2 (3), 19, 24; Ov. M. 7, 778; 8, 30; Juv. 13, 80; cf. Plin. 16, 36, 65, § 159 sq.—
4. An angling-rod, fishing-rod: calamo salientes ducere pisces, Ov. M. 3, 587.—
5. A lime-twig for snaring birds, Prop. 3 (4), 13, 46; Mart. 13, 68; 14, 218; Sen. Oct. 411.—
6. A signal-pole or rod, Col. 3, 15, 1 sq.—
7. A measuring-rod, Vulg. Ezech. 40, 5 al.—
B. Transf. to things of a similar form.
1. In gen., any straw of grain, a stalk, stem, blade: lupini calamus, Verg. G. 1, 76: calamus altior frumento quam hordeo, Plin. 18, 7, 10, § 61.—
2. A graft, a scion, Plin. 17, 14, 24, § 102 sq.; 17, 18. 30, § 129; 24, 14, 75, § 123; Col. 4, 29, 9.—
3. A small rod, used in Egypt for pointing out the way, Plin. 6, 29, 33, § 166.—
4. The hollow arm of a candelabra, Vulg. Exod. 25, 31 sq.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱélh₂m̥
  2. Latincalamus

Ancient Greek κάλαμος (kálamos)bor. Latin calamus Borrowed from Ancient Greek κάλαμος (kálamos). Doublet of culmus. Compare calamīna.

Descendants
  • Italiancalamo
  • Frenchchaumefrom Old French chaume
  • Romaniancarâmb
  • Catalancàlam
  • Englishcalamus
  • Frenchcalame
  • GermanKalmus
  • Portuguesecálamo
  • Spanishcálamo
  • Asturiangárabu

In English words that came into English from calamus

  • caramelcalamellus
  • shawmcalamellus
  • calamaricalamarius
  • calumetcalamellus
  • calamuscalamus
  • chalumeaucalamellus
  • calamarycalamārius
  • calamiferouscalamus

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesCalamusCalamus a reed. Under this head it seems desirable to group an account of the most important objects made of reeds of various kinds. The varieties of …

Quick answers

What does calamus mean in Latin?
calamus, a noun, means “a reed, cane; an object made from a reed, such as a reed pen, arrow, or fishing rod; a stalk, straw, blade”.
What is the genitive of calamus?
The genitive singular is calamī. calamus is masculine, second declension.
How do you pronounce calamus?
In classical Latin, [ˈka.ɫa.mʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈkaː.la.mus].
Where does calamus come from?
Proto-Indo-European *ḱélh₂m̥ → Latin calamus.
Which English words come from calamus?
English words that go back to Latin calamus include calamus, calamiferous, caramel, shawm, calamari and calumet.