Also 6 kalmus, calmus. [a. L. calamus, Gr. κάλαμος reed.]
† 1. A reed, a cane: vaguely used by early writers, after Latin or Greek authors. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xxix. (1495), 622. Calamus is holowe wythin as a cane. Ibid., xxx. 622. Strawe is called Calamus visualis.
1597. Gerard, Herbal, I. xlv. 63. Bastard or false Calamus grows naturally at the foot of a hill.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 375. The shorter and thicker that the reed is, the better is the Calamus.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 53. The true or bitter Calamus is a Kind of Reed.
2. Sweet Calamus, C. aromaticus: a. some eastem aromatic plant or plants (supposed by some to be Andropogon Schœnanthus, the Sweet-scented Lemon Grass of Malabar); b. applied by some English herbalists to the native Sweet Flag or Sweet Rush (Acorus Calamus).
1388. Wyclif, Ezek. xxvii. 19. Dan, and Greece, and Mosel, settiden forth in thi fairis … calamus.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XV. lxxiii. (1495), 515. Calamum smellyth full swete of yuory.
1535. Coverdale, Jer. vi. 20. Wherfore bringe ye me … swete smellinge Calamus from farre countrees?
1611. Bible, Ex. xxx. 23. Take thou … of sweet calamus [Coverdale Kalmus] two hundred and fiftie shekels.
1650. Rawley, trans. Bacon’s Life & Death, 45. Broath … with … a little Angellica Seed, and Calamus.
1741. Compl. Fam.-Piece, I. iv. 243. Calamus Aromaticus 3 Ounces, leaves of Wall-Rue 4 Ounces.
1794. Martyn, Rousseau’s Bot., xviii. 251. Of plants not ciliaceous … Calamus Aromaticus or Sweet Rush.
1851. Longf., Gold. Leg., Nativity, vi. Another goblet!… Stir … drops of myrrh And calamus therein!
3. A genus of palms comprising many species, the stems of which grow to an extraordinary length, and form canes or rattans.
1836. Penny Cycl., VI. 135/2. Calamus.… The species … grow in the forests, climbing over trees and bushes to a greater extent than any other known plants.
1885. H. M. Stanley, Congo, II. 92. The luxuriant and endless lengths of calamus are useful for flooring and verandah mats, [etc.].
4. ‘A fistular stem without an articulation’ (Treas. Bot.).
