Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Calk
Calk
(ka̤k)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Calked
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Calking
.] [Either corrupted fr. F.
calfater
(cf. Pg. calafetar
, Sp. calafetear
), fr. Ar. qalafa
to fill up crevices with the fibers of palm tree or moss; or fr. OE. cauken
to tred, through the French fr. L. calcare
, fr. calx
heel. Cf. Calk
to copy, Inculcate
.] 1.
To drive tarred oakum into the seams between the planks of (a ship, boat, etc.), to prevent leaking. The calking is completed by smearing the seams with melted pitch.
2.
To make an indentation in the edge of a metal plate, as along a seam in a steam boiler or an iron ship, to force the edge of the upper plate hard against the lower and so fill the crevice.
Calk
(kălk)
, Verb.
T.
[E.
calquer
to trace, It. caicare
to trace, to trample, fr. L. calcare
to trample, fr. calx
heel. Cf. Calcarate
.] To copy, as a drawing, by rubbing the back of it with red or black chalk, and then passing a blunt style or needle over the lines, so as to leave a tracing on the paper or other thing against which it is laid or held.
[Written also
calque
] Calk
(ka̤k)
, Noun.
[Cf. AS.
calc
shoe, hoof, L. calx
, calcis
, heel, calcar
, spur.] 1.
A sharp-pointed piece of iron or steel projecting downward on the shoe of a horse or an ox, to prevent the animal from slipping; – called also
calker
, calkin
. 2.
An instrument with sharp points, worn on the sole of a shoe or boot, to prevent slipping.
Calk
(ka̤k)
, Verb.
I.
1.
To furnish with calks, to prevent slipping on ice;
as, to
. calk
the shoes of a horse or an ox2.
To wound with a calk; as when a horse injures a leg or a foot with a calk on one of the other feet.
Webster 1828 Edition
Calk
CALK
,Verb.
T.
1.
To drive oakum or old ropes untwised, into the seams of a ship or other vessel, to prevent their leaking, or admitting water. After the seams are filled, they are covered with hot melted pitch or rosin, to keep the oakum from rotting.2.
In some parts of America, to set upon a horse or ox shoes armed with sharp points of iron, to prevent their slipping on ice; that is, to stop from slipping.CALK
,Noun.
Definition 2024
calk
calk
See also: caulk
English
Noun
calk (plural calks)
- A pointed projection on a horseshoe to prevent it slipping.
Translations
Verb
calk (third-person singular simple present calks, present participle calking, simple past and past participle calked)
- (possibly dated) Alternative spelling of caulk
- 1915 April 1, in Gas Age, volume 35, page 328:
- When a joint was calked, the bell piece was then separated,
- 1915 April 1, in Gas Age, volume 35, page 328:
- To make an indentation in the edge of a metal plate, as along a seam in a steam boiler or an iron ship, to force the edge of the upper plate hard against the lower and so fill the crevice.
Etymology 2
Ultimately from Latin calcō (“I trample”).
Alternative forms
Verb
calk (third-person singular simple present calks, present participle calking, simple past and past participle calked)
- To copy (a drawing) by rubbing the back of it with red or black chalk, and then passing a blunt stylus or needle over the lines, so as to leave a tracing on the paper or other thing against which it is laid or held.