calamistrum

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin calamistrum (“a curling-iron”).

Noun

calamistrum (plural calamistra)

1. (zoology) A comb-like structure on the metatarsus of the hind legs of certain spiders (Ciniflonidae), used to curl certain fibres in the construction of their webs.

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
(See the entry for calamistrum in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.)

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Latin

Alternative forms

• calamister

Etymology

Apparently from Ancient Greek καλάμιστρος (kalámistros, “stipula”), from κάλαμος (kálamos, “reed”), referring to the tubular shape of the heated curling irons. Perhaps influenced by Latin instrumental suffix -trum.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ka.laˈmis.trum/, [ka.ɫaˈmɪs.trũ]

Noun

calamistrum n (genitive calamistrī); second declension

1. curling iron, curling tongs
2. excessively ornamented words

Inflection

Second declension.

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	calamistrum	calamistra
genitive	calamistrī	calamistrōrum
dative	calamistrō	calamistrīs
accusative	calamistrum	calamistra
ablative	calamistrō	calamistrīs
vocative	calamistrum	calamistra

Derived terms

• calamistrātus

Descendants

• Portuguese: calamistro

References

• calamistrum in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• calamistrum in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• calamistrum in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin