Calamus

[kælәmәs]

Definition

(noun.) a genus of Sparidae.

(noun.) the aromatic root of the sweet flag used medicinally.

(noun.) any tropical Asian palm of the genus Calamus; light tough stems are a source of rattan canes.

Edited by Jessica--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) The indian cane, a plant of the Palm family. It furnishes the common rattan. See Rattan, and Dragon's blood.

(n.) 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.

(n.) The horny basal portion of a feather; the barrel or quill.

Checked by Justin

Definition

n. the traditional name of the sweet flag which is no doubt the Calamus aromaticus of Roman authors and probably the sweet calamus and sweet cane of Scripture but not the fragrant lemon-grass of India: a genus of palms whose stems make canes or rattans: the reed pen used by the ancients in writing.

Checked by Joy