calamus
noun
cal·a·mus
ˈka-lə-məs 
plural calami
ˈka-lə-ˌmī
-ˌmē
1
a
b
: the aromatic peeled and dried rhizome of the sweet flag that is the source of a carcinogenic essential oil
2
: the hollow basal portion of a feather below the vane : quill
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Though the calamus was visible in the 1860s and included in drawings of the fossil at the time, wear on the specimen caused the feature to fade from view.
—
Ryan Carney, National Geographic, 30 Sep. 2020
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Ryan Carney, National Geographic, 30 Sep. 2020
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“Calamus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calamus. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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calamus
noun
cal·a·mus
ˈkal-ə-məs
plural calami
-ˌmī, -ˌmē
1
: a perennial marsh herb (Acorus calamus) native to Asia but introduced to Europe and North America that was used especially formerly as a flavoring agent and in alternative medicine but is now banned for these uses in several countries because of demonstrated carcinogenicity and toxicity in laboratory animals : sweet flag
2
: the aromatic peeled and dried rhizome of the calamus that is the source of a carcinogenic essential oil
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