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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Chalk

Chalk, n.

noun

(chawk), n. [A-S. cealc, D., Dan., Sw., & Ger. kalk, from Lat. calx, limestone, chalkstone; It. calce, Sp. cal, Fr. chaux. See CALX and CAWK.] (Min.) A soft, earthy, well-known substance, consisting of carbonate of lime, and having the same composition as common limestone. It occurs in Europe in extensive strata.

Chalk or cretaceous period (Geol.), the latter part of the secondary or reptilian age, immediately preceding the tertiary.—Chalk formation, the series of strata comprising the rocks of various kinds (including chalk) which were formed in the chalk period. Dana.—French chalk, steatite or soapstone, a soft magnesian mineral.—Red chalk, an indurated clayey ocher used by painters and artificers.—To know chalk from cheese, to understand what is going on, or what is for one's interests.

Chalk, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. CHALKED; p. pr. & vb. n. CHALKING.]

  1. To rub with chalk; to mark with chalk.
  2. To manure with chalk, as land. Mortimer.
  3. To make white, as with chalk; to make pale; to bleach. [Obs. and rare.]

Let a bleak paleness chalk the door. Herbert. To chalk out, to lay out, draw out, or describe, “I shall pursue the plan I have chalked out.” Burke.