Calk | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Călk or Călque, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [Fr. calquer, to chalk, to trace, from Lat. calc, limestone.] To copy, as a drawing, by rubbing the back of it with red or black chalk, and then tracing the lines through on paper, &c., by means of a blunt style or needle.

Calk, v. t.

verbtransitive

(kawk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. CALKED; p. pr. & vb. n. CALKING.] [Probably corrupted from Fr. calfater, calfeutrer, Pr. calafatar, calefatar; O. Sp. & Pg. calafetar, It. calafatare, Sp. calafatear, Catalan calafatejar, N. Gr. καλαφατεύειν, from Ar. galafa, to fill up crevices with the fibers of palm-trees or moss.]

Sense 1. To drive oakum into the seams of, as 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 resin, to preserve the oakum from decay.

Sense 2. [See infra.] To furnish the shoes of with sharp points of iron, to prevent their slipping on ice;—said of a horse or ox. White.

Calk, n.

noun

(kawk), n. [Cf. A-S. calc, shoe, hoof, Lat. calx, heel, calcar, spur.]

A sharp pointed piece of iron on a shoe for a horse or an ox, used to prevent the animal from slipping;—it is also written calker, calkin, cork. White.
An instrument with sharp points, worn on the sole of the shoe or boot to prevent slipping on the ice. [U. S.]

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