Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CAL'A-MUS, n. [L. from Gr. καλαμος, a stalk or stem, a reed, stubble; Eth. and Ar. قَلَمٌ, kalaman, calamus scriptorius, a writing reed, or pen. The verb in Arabic signifies to cut or pare. But qu., for it would seem to be allied to culmus.]

1. The generic name of the Indian cane, called also Rotang. It is without branches, has a crown at the top, and is beset with spines. – Encyc.
2. In antiquity, a pipe or fistula, a wind instrument, made of a reed or oaten stalk. – Encyc.
3. A rush or reed, used anciently as a pen to write on parchment or papyrus. – Encyc.
4. A sort of reed, or sweet-scented cane, used by the Jews as a perfume. It is a knotty root, reddish without and white within, and filled with a spungy substance. It has an aromatic smell. – Brown. Calmet.
5. The sweet flag, called by Linnæus, Acorus. – Encyc.