I. Liv.
A. A small stone used in gaming, a counter (less freq. than the dim. calculus, q. v.), Plaut. Poen. 4, 2, 86; Lucil. ap. Prisc. p. 687 P.; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 46 Müll.—
B. Limestone, lime, whether slaked or not, Lucr. 6, 1067; Cic. Mil. 27, 74: “viva,” unslaked, quicklime, Vitr. 8, 7: “coquere,” to burn lime, Cato, R. R. 16; Vitr. 2, 5, 1: exstincta, slaked, id. l. l.: “macerata,” id. 7, 2; Plin. 36, 23, 55, § 177: “harenatus,” mixed with sand, mortar, Cato, R. R. 18, 7: “materies ex calce et harenā mixta,” Vitr. 7, 3.— Since the goal or limit in the race-ground was designated by lime (as later by chalk, v. creta), calx signifies,
II. Trop., the goal, end, or limit in the race-course (anciently marked with lime or chalk; opp. carceres, the starting-point; mostly ante-Aug.; “esp. freq. in Cic.): supremae calcis spatium,” Lucr. 6, 92 Lachm.; Sen. Ep. 108, 32; Varr. ap. Non. p. 199, 24: “ad calcem pervenire,” Cic. Lael. 27, 101; so, “ad carceres a calce revocari,” i. e. to turn back from the end to the beginning, id. Sen. 23, 83: “nunc video calcem, ad quam (al. quem) cum sit decursum,” id. Tusc. 1, 8, 15: ab ipsā (al. ipso) calce revocati, id. Rep. Fragm. ap. Sen. l.l.; Quint. 8, 5, 30 dub.; v. Spald. N. cr.—