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.—
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.
