Forms: 7 calot, callott(e, callote, 7–8 callot, 9 calotte. [a. F. calotte, according to Littré, dim. of cale caul.]
1. A plain skull-cap; now esp. that worn by Roman Catholic ecclesiastics, etc.; formerly also the coif of a serjeant-at-law.
16[?]. Songs Costume (1849), 135. Then calot leather-cap strongly pleads.
1632. B. Jonson, Magn. Lady, I. vii. 68. The wearing the Callott; the politique hood.
1656. J. Harrington, Oceana (1700), 214. They wore black velvet Calots.
1670. Lassels, Voy. Italy, II. 388. An ordinary callote (or cap which we wear under our hats).
1776. Pennant, Tours Scotl., II. 243. A head of Cardinal Beaton, black hair, smooth face, a red callot.
1875. Ceremonial Cath. Ch. U. S., 137. Should any wear the calotte, it is taken off also when a genuflection is made; when the deacon sings the Gospel.
2. A cap-like set of feathers on a bird’s head.
1874. Coues, Birds N.-W., 616. Occiput subcrested … forming a calotte of brownish-black.
ǁ 3. Any thing having the form of a small cap; the cap of a sword-hilt; the cap of a pistol, etc. (Chiefly Fr. uses, but occas. used in Eng.)
1886. Times, 3 March, 9/5. If, however, the spherical calotte of the German system were put out of shape during the firing it is doubtful whether the firing could be continued with the same precision.
ǁ 4. Arch. (See quot.)
1727–51. in Chambers, Cycl.
1876. Gwilt, Archit., Gloss., Calotte. A concavity in the form of a cup or niche, lathed and plastered, serving to diminish the height of a chapel, alcove, or cabinet, which otherwise would appear too high for the breadth.
ǁ 5. Any segment of a sphere, especially the smaller of two unequal segments. (A French sense; but given in some Eng. Dicts.)
