Obs. exc. Sc. Forms: 6 calme, cawm, 7 caulm, 8 calm, cam. Cf. also CAME.
1. A mold in which metal objects are cast. Sc.
1535. Sc. Acts Jas. V. (1814), 346. Twa hagbutis … with powder and cawmys for furnessing of the samin. Ibid. (1540), (1597), § 94. Ane Hagbutte of Founde, called Hagbute of Crochert, with their Calmes, Bullettes and pellockes of leed or irone.
1599. in Pitcairn, Crimin. Trials, II. 75. Prenting in calmis, maid of trie, fillit vp with calk, of fals adulterat money.
c. 1725. W. Orem, Hist. Aberdeen, in Bibl. Top. Brit. (1782), V. 152. Three hagbuts, with calms of stone.
1768. Mauchline Less. Rec., in Old Ch. Life Scotl. (1885), 139. A set of Cams or moulds.
b. In the calms (fig.): in course of construction, in the state of preparation.
a. 1662. Baillie, Lett. (1775), II. 197 (Jam.). The matter of peace is now in the caulms.
† 2. An enclosing frame, as of a pane of glass.
1577. Harrison, England, II. xii. (1877), 236. Some … did make panels of horne in steed of glasse, and fix them in woodden calmes.
3. The heddles of a loom. See CAAM.
