Forms: 7 calapatch, 8 calibash, callepash, 8– calipash, callipash, (9 calapash). [Perh. calipash and CALIPEE may be adoptions of some West Indian words; the former suggests Sp. carapacho (see CARAPACE).]
† a. The upper shell or carapace of the turtle (obs.) b. That part of the turtle next to the upper shell, containing a dull green gelatinous substance.
1689. H. Pitman, Relation, in Arb., Garner, VII. 358. We left some peces of the flesh on the calapatch and calapee, that is, the back and breast shells.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, I. 1. The tortoise … besides the delicious calibash and calipee contains many different kinds of food.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1775), 217. An alderman who swallows three pounds of callipash and callipee.
a. 1845. Hood, Turtles. Having … Forestall’d the civic Banquet yet to be, Its callipash and callipee.
1883. Pall Mall Gaz., 21 Nov., 11/2. The callipee is the white portion of the flesh which comes from the belly; the calipash is black in colour, and is taken from the back.
