calf 
from G. Perhaps akin to Skt. garbha, the 
womb, an embryo, = Gr. ppe<t>af, an embryo. 
In the derived senses 7, 8, 9, cf. Dan. Icalv, a 
detached islet, and see calee, 3, and cafe 1 .] 
1. The young of the eow or of other bovine 
quadrupeds. In customs laws, and as established by 
treaties of commerce between many European countries, 
a young animal ceases to be a calf when it has shed its 
two front milk-teeth, which takes place some time be- 
tween its IGth and its 24th month. 
2. The young of marine mammals, as seals 
and cetaceans, the adults of which are called 
bulls and cows. 3. In her., a fawn. 4. Calf- 
skin leather: as, a shoe made of calf; a book 
bound in calf. 5. A bookbinding in calfskin. 
6. An immature or raw person ; a silly dolt ; 
a weak or cowardly man. [Colloq.] 
Some silly, doting, brainless calf. Drayton, Nymphidia. 
7. A small island lying near a large one (the 
two being compared to a cow with its calf) : 
as, the calf of Man. Admiral Smyth. [Eng.] 
8. A mass of earth which separates from the 
walls of a cutting or excavation, and falls in. 
Compare calve, 3, and cave 1 . [Prov. Eng.] 
Tak heed, lads, there's a cauf a-comin. 
Lincolnshire Glossary (E. D. 8., ed. Peacock). 
9. Naut., a mass of floe-ice, breaking from under 
the floe and rising to the surface of the water, 
often with violence Divinity calf, a dark -brown 
calf bookbinding decorated with blind -stamping, and with- 
out gilding : so called because used in binding theological 
works. Half calf, a bookbinding of which the back and 
corners only are in calfskin. Mottled calf, a pale-col- 
ored calf bookbinding, decorated by the sprinkling of 
acids in drops. Smooth calf, a binding in plain or un- 
decorated leather. The calves Of the lips, metaphori- 
cally used in Hosea xiv. 2 for sacrifices of prayer, praise, 
and thanksgiving, the captives of Babylon being unable 
to offer sacrifices in the temple. Tree calf, a bright- 
brown calf bookbinding stained by acids in conventional 
imitation of the trunk and branches of a tree. 
calf 2 (kaf), . ; pi. calces (kavz). [< ME. calfe, 
calf. < Icel. kdlfi = Norw. kalve, dial, kalv, kaave, 
= Sw. half, in comp. ben-half, calf (ben. leg, = 
E. bone 1 ), = Dan. dial, kalve, kalle, kal; cf. 
Ir. calpa, colpa, Gael, calpa, calf of the leg.] 
The thick fleshy part of the human leg behind, 
between the knee and the ankle, chiefly formed 
by the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, which 
are relatively larger in man than in any other 
animal, for the better support of the body in 
the erect attitude. 
Long. His leg is too big for Hector. 
Dum. More calf, certain. Shak., L. L. L., v. 2. 
calf-bone (kaf'bon), . The fibula. 
calfkill (kiif'kil), n. LambkiH or sheep-laurel, 
Kalmia angustifolia. 
calf-lick (kaf 'lik), n. Same as cow-lick. 
calf-like (kaf'lik), . or adv. Resembling a 
calf ; in the manner of a calf. 
So I charm'd their ears, 
That, calf- like, they my lowing follow'd. 
Shak., Tempest, iv. 1. 
calf-love (kaf'luv), n. A youthful transitory 
passion or affection, as opposed to a serious 
lasting attachment or love. 
It's a girl's fancy just, a kind o' calf-love; let it go by. 
Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers, xx. 
calf's-foot (kafs'fut), n. A name of the Arum 
macula-turn, from the shape of the leaf. 
calfs-head (kiifs'hed), n. The pitcher-plant 
of California, Darliiigtonia Californica, in allu- 
sion to the ventricose hood at the summit of the 
leaf. See Darlingtonia. 
calfskin (kaf'skin), n. 1. The hide or skin of 
a calf. 
Thou wear a lion's hide ! doff it for shame, 
And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant limbs. 
Shak., K. John, iii. 1. 
2. Leather made of calves' skins, a common 
material for boots and shoes, and also, when 
differently prepared, for bookbinding. Calfskin 
differs from morocco in having a very smooth 
and uniform surface. 
calf-snout (kaf 'snout), n. The snapdragon, An- 
tirrhinum mnjlla. 
calf-tmndlet, The ruffle of a shirt; the 
flounces of a gown. Wright. 
calf-ward (kaf 'ward), n. A place where calves 
are kept in the field. Also written cauf-ward. 
[Scotch.] 
caliatOUI-WOOd (kal'i-a-tor-wud), n. A kind 
of dyewood which grows in India on the Coro- 
mandel coast. It is sometimes confounded with 
red sandal-wood. 
caliber, calibre (kal'i-ber), . [< F. calibre, 
formerly also qnalibre, bore of a gun, size, 
capacity (lit. and fig.), also weight, = Sp. Pg. 
calibre = It. calibro, caliber. Origin uncertain ; 
perhaps < L. (ML.) qua libra, of what dimen- 
sions, weight : qua, abl. fern, of quis, who, what, 
764 
= E. io7io, wlia-t; libra, abl. of libra, balance, 
counterpoise, measure for liquids, a pound: 
see libra. Cf. cantilever, oantalwer. Littre' sug- 
gests Ar. kalab, a form, mold, model ; cf. Pers. 
kalab, a mold. Doublets, caliper, caliver, q. v.] 
1. The diameter of a body, especially of the 
hollow inside of a cylinder: as, the caliber of 
a piece of ordnance or other firearm, in the 
United States the caliber of a firearm is expressed in deci- 
mal parts of an inch ; thus, a rifle of .44-inch caliber (often 
shortened to "a 44-caliber rifle,"" a 32-caliber pistol," etc.); 
of a cannon, either by the diameter of its bore, as a 10-inch 
gun, or by the weight of a solid round shot which it can 
carry, as a 12-pounder. In Great Britain the calibers of 
small arms are commonly expressed in decimal parts of an 
inch ; of fleld-guns, by the weight of a solid round shot 
which will fit the bore, as a 6-pounder ; of heavy guns, in 
tons, as a 38-ton gun or a 100-ton gun. In France and in 
other countries on the continent the caliber is expressed 
in millimeters or centimeters. 
The energy of the brain depends mainly on the calibre 
of its arteries. 
G. H. Levxs, Probs. of Life and Mind, I. ii. 47. 
2. Figuratively, compass or capacity of mind ; 
the extent of one's intellectual endowments. 
Coming from men of their calibre, they were highly mis- 
chievous. Burke., Appeal to Old Whigs. 
A thinker of Comte's calibre does not live and write to 
no purpose. J. Fiske, Cosmic Philos., I. 164. 
3. In liorol. : (a) The distance between the 
two plates of a watch which determines the 
flatness of the movement. (6) The plate upon 
which is traced the arrangement of the pieces 
of a clock; the pattern-plate. E. H. Knight. 
- Caliber-compasses, calibers. See caliper. 
caliber (kal'i-ber), v. t. [< caliber, .] In (/mi., 
to ascertain the caliber of; calibrate. See 
caliper. [Little used.] 
caliber-gage (kal'i-ber-gaj), H. A tool or stand- 
ard for measuring cali- 
bers, whether external or 
internal. A usual combination 
form (see the annexed cut) is made 
with prongs or jaws having an 
opening of exactly the required 
caliber for external measure- 
ments, and a bar of the exact 
gage for internal measurements. 
Other forms are plugs or rings, 
etc. Also caliper-gage . 
caliber-rule (kal'i-ber-rol), 'ii. 1. Gunners' 
calipers, an instrument in which a right line 
is so divided that, the first part being equal 
to the diameter of an iron or leaden ball of 1 
pound weight, the other parts are to the first 
as the diameters of balls of 2, 3, 4, etc., pounds 
are to the diameter of a ball of 1 pound. It is 
used by engineers to determine a ball's weight 
from its diameter or 
caliber, and vice versa. 
2. An outside caliper 
formed by a rule hav- 
caiiber-ruie. ing a graduated slide 
with a projecting foot, 
between which and the end of the rule is placed 
the piece to be measured. 
Also caliper-rule. 
caliber-square (kal'i-ber-skwar), n. A rule 
carrying two cross-heads, one of which is ad- 
justed slight- 
ly by a nut, 
the other be- 
ing movable 
along the 
rale. On one 
side the cross- 
heads are adapt- 
ed to the mea- 
surement of in- 
terior diameters 
or sizes, and on 
Also 
Caliber-gage. 
A^J^^** "n*j%j~| ca 
Caliber-square. 
the other side to the measurement of external sizes. 
caliper-Rquare. 
calibogus (kal-i-bo'gus), n. An American cant 
name for a drink made of rum and spruce beer. 
calibrate (kal'i-brat), v. t. ; pret. and pp. cali- 
brated, ppr. calibrating. [< caliber + -ate 2 .] 
1. To determine the caliber of, as the interior 
of a thermometer-tube. See calibration. Hence 
2. To determine the relative value of, as dif- 
ferent parts of an arbitrary scale. 
It is, however, possible to calibrate the galvanometer, 
that is, to ascertain by special measurements, or by 
comparison with a standard instrument, to what strengths 
of current particular amounts of deflection correspond. 
S. P. Thompson, Elect, and Mag., p. 163. 
calibration (kal-i-bra'shon), >i. [< calibrate + 
-ion.'] The act or process of calibrating, espe- 
cially of ascertaining the caliber of a thermom- 
eter-tube, with the view of graduating it to a 
scale of degrees, or, if graduated, of discover- 
ing and measuring any errors due to inequality 
in the bore ; also, the determination of the true 
values of the divisions of any graduated scale. 
calico-printing 
The calibration of a thermometer-tube is effected by insert- 
ing a column of mercury of a known length, and ascertain- 
ing that it retains the same length in all parts of the tube. 
calibre, . See caliber. 
Calibum (kal'i-bern), n. Another name for Ex- 
calibur, the sword of King Arthur: as, " Cali- 
burn's resistless brand," Scott, Bridal of Trier- 
main, i. 15. 
calicate (kal'i-kat), a. [A corrupt form of caly- 
cate, as if < L. calix (calic-), a cup (see calix), + 
-rtfe 1 .] See calycate. 
calice (kal'is), . [< ME. ea-Ks, chalice, < OF. 
cnlice, a cup, assibilated 'chalice, > E. chalice, 
q. v., < L. calix (calic-), a cup : see chalice.'] If. 
A cup, usually a communion-cup ; a chalice. 
Eating the holy bread and drinking the sacred calice. 
Jer. Taylor. 
2. In zoot., the little cup in which the polyp of 
a coral-producing zoophyte is contained. 
calices (kal'i-sez), . pi. In anat. andro67., a cor- 
rupt form of calyces, plural of calyx (which see). 
caliche (ka-le'che), n. [Sp., a pebble acciden- 
tally inclosed in a burnt brick, also a flake 
of lime detached from a whitewashed wall; 
in Mex. Sp. recent soft or earthy limestone ; 
used by Humboldt as equiv. to Sp. caliza, lime- 
stone (cf. calizo, limy, calcareous) ; < cal, < L. 
calx, lime : see calf 1 .] The local South Ameri- 
can name of the native impure nitrate of soda 
(Chili saltpeter), of much importance in the 
commerce of South America. 
caliciferous. a. See calydferous. 
calicle, n. In .rod'/., same as calycle, 2. 
calico (kal'i-ko), . and a. [Early mod. E. also 
callico (cf. Dan. kalilco, Sw. kalliko, F. calicot, 
Sp. calico, < E. ; Sp. calicut, culicud, a silk stuff) ; 
so called from Calicut (in early mod. E. also 
Calicow, Caleco) in India, whence it was first 
imported.] I. . ; pi. calicoes or -co* (-koz). 
1. Properly, any white cotton cloth: as, un- 
bleached calico, shirting-caKco, etc. Calico was 
first manufactured in India, whence it was 
introduced into Europe. 2. In the United 
States, printed cotton cloth of a coarser quality 
than muslin. 
II. a. 1. Made of calico: as, a calico gown. 
2. Resembling printed cotton or calico; 
spotted; piebald: as, a calico horse. [Rare.] 
The kind-hearted Antony alighted from his calico mare, 
and kissed them all with infinite loving-kindness. 
Irving, Knickerbocker, p. 419. 
calico-back (kal'i-ko-bak), n. A local name 
on the Atlantic coast of the United States of 
the turnstone, Strej)silus interpres. 
[The name! Calico-back [has reference] to the curiously 
variegated plumage of the upper parts. 
Sportsman'* Gazetteer, p. 164. 
calico-bass (kal'i-ko-bas), n. A name of a sun- 
fish, Pomoxys sparoides, of the family Cen trar- 
chida'. Also called grass-bass, stratvberry-bass, 
and bar-fish. See crappie. 
calico-bush (kal'i-ko -bush), n. A common 
name of the Kalmia latifolia, the mountain lau- 
rel of the United 
States. 
calico-printer 
(kal'i-ko-prin"- 
ter), H. One whose 
occupation is the 
printing of cali- 
coes. 
calico-printing 
(kal ' i - ko - prm '' - 
ting), n. The art 
of impressing de- 
signs in color up- 
on cloth. The sim- 
plest method is the use 
of engraved wooden 
blocks, pressed upon 
the cloth by hand. A 
separate block is re- 
quired for each color. 
Block-printing has also 
been effected by means 
of machinery. For 
most work a cylinder- 
press is used. The pat- 
terns are engraved up- 
on the surface of cop- 
per rollers, and the 
movement of the cloth 
Calico-printing Machine, adapted for 
two pattern -rollers. 
The cloth is unwound from roller /, 
and passes beneath the smooth roller a, 
receiving an impression from each ol the 
two rollers e, e, as it passes. The roller 
a runs in journal-boxes which are regu- 
lated by a set-screw b at each end, and 
a smoothing-roller c, actuated by a set- 
screw d, holds the cloth against the 
roller a. The pattern-rollers, e, e, are 
"Minn r,i mcuium inke(1 by the aprO ns, /)/, which pass 
IS Continuous and over the rollers f, f, i, the outside surfaces 
rapid. The colors used of the aprons coming in contact with the 
surfaces of the rollers g. , g, which revolve 
in the ink-troughs, h, h. After receiving 
the Impressions from the pattern-rollers, 
e, e, the cloth, m tn m, is led off to be 
dried and folded. 
are either substantive 
or adjective : the for- 
mer have an affinity for 
the cloth, and by them- 
selves adhere and form 
permanent dyes ; the latter will not of themselves adhere 
to the fibers, or, if they do, are not permanent, but require 
to be fixed by mordants. The various styles of printing 
are called the bandana. r/ji'/m-Wt/?, decoloring, discharge, 
madder, padding, resist style, etc. 
