The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section C

Chapter 6

Chapter 64,009 wordsPublic domain

Cal`li*pash" (&?;), n. See Calipash.

Cal`li*pee" (&?;), n. See Calipee.

Cal`li*pers (&?;), n. pl. See Calipers.

Cal`li*sec"tion (?), n. [L. callere to be insensible + E. section.] Painless vivisection; -- opposed to sentisection. B. G. Wilder.

{ Cal`lis*then"ic, a., Cal`lis*then"ics (?), n. } See Calisthenic, Calisthenics.

Cal"li*thump` (?), n. A somewhat riotous parade, accompanied with the blowing of tin horns, and other discordant noises; also, a burlesque serenade; a charivari. [U. S.]

Cal`li*thump"i*an (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a callithump. [U. S.]

Cal*lo"san (?), a. (Anat.) Of the callosum.

Cal"lose (?), a. [See Callous.] (Bot.) Furnished with protuberant or hardened spots.

Cal*los"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Callosities (#). [L. callasitas; cf. F. calostÚ.] A hard or thickened spot or protuberance; a hardening and thickening of the skin or bark of a part, eps. as a result of continued pressure or friction.

||Cal*lo"sum (?), n. [NL., fr. callosus callous, hard.] (Anat.) The great band commissural fibers which unites the two cerebral hemispheres. See corpus callosum, under Carpus.

Cal"lot (?), n. A plant coif or skullcap. Same as Calotte. B. Jonson.

Cal"lous (?), a. [L. callosus callous hard, fr. callum, callus, callous skin: cf. F. calleux.] 1. Hardened; indurated. "A callous hand." Goldsmith. "A callous ulcer." Dunglison.

2. Hardened in mind; insensible; unfeeling; unsusceptible. "The callous diplomatist." Macaulay.

It is an immense blessing to be perfectly callous to ridicule. T. Arnold.

Syn. -- Obdurate; hard; hardened; indurated; insensible; unfeeling; unsusceptible. See Obdurate.

-- Cal"lous*ly, adv. -- Cal"lous*ness, n.

A callousness and numbness of soul. Bentley.

Cal"low (?), a. [OE. calewe, calu, bald, AS. calu; akin to D. kaal, OHG. chalo, G. Kuhl; cf. L. calvus.]

1. Destitute of feathers; naked; unfledged.

An in the leafy summit, spied a nest, Which, o'er the callow young, a sparrow pressed. Dryden.

2. Immature; boyish; "green"; as, a callow youth.

I perceive by this, thou art but a callow maid. Old Play [1675].

Cal*low" (?), n. (Zo÷l.) [Named from its note.] A kind of duck. See Old squaw.

Cal"lus (kăl"lŭs), n. [L. See Callous.] 1. (Med.) (a) Same as Callosity. (b The material of repair in fractures of bone; a substance exuded at the site of fracture, which is at first soft or cartilaginous in consistence, but is ultimately converted into true bone and unites the fragments into a single piece.

2. (Hort.) The new formation over the end of a cutting, before it puts out rootlets.

Calm (kńm), n. [OE. calme, F. calme, fr. It. or Sp. calma (cf. Pg. calma heat), prob. fr. LL. cauma heat, fr. Gr. kay^ma burning heat, fr. kai`ein to burn; either because during a great heat there is generally also a calm, or because the hot time of the day obliges us seek for shade and quiet; cf. Caustic] Freedom from motion, agitation, or disturbance; a cessation or absence of that which causes motion or disturbance, as of winds or waves; tranquility; stillness; quiet; serenity.

The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark. iv. 39.

A calm before a storm is commonly a peace of a man's own making. South.

Calm, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Calmed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Calming.] [Cf. F. calmer. See Calm, n.] 1. To make calm; to render still or quiet, as elements; as, to calm the winds.

To calm the tempest raised by Eolus. Dryden.

2. To deliver from agitation or excitement; to still or soothe, as the mind or passions.

Passions which seem somewhat calmed. Atterbury.

Syn. -- To still; quiet; appease; allay; pacify; tranquilize; soothe; compose; assuage; check; restrain.

Calm (kńm), a. [Compar. Calmer (-&etilde;r); super. Calmest (-&ebreve;st)] 1. Not stormy; without motion, as of winds or waves; still; quiet; serene; undisturbed. "Calm was the day." Spenser.

Now all is calm, and fresh, and still. Bryant.

2. Undisturbed by passion or emotion; not agitated or excited; tranquil; quiet in act or speech. "Calm and sinless peace." Milton. "With calm attention." Pope.

Such calm old age as conscience pure And self-commanding hearts ensure. Keble.

Syn. -- Still; quiet; undisturbed; tranquil; peaceful; serene; composed; unruffled; sedate; collected; placid.

Calm"er (?), n. One who, or that which, makes calm.

Calm"ly (?), adv. In a calm manner.

The gentle stream which calmly flows. Denham.

Calm"ness, n. The state of quality of being calm; quietness; tranquillity; self- repose.

The gentle calmness of the flood. Denham.

Hes calmness was the repose of conscious power. E. Everett.

Syn. -- Quietness; quietude; stillness; tranquillity; serenity; repose; composure; sedateness; placidity.

Cal"mucks (?), n. pl.; sing. Calmuck. A branch of the Mongolian race inhabiting parts of the Russian and Chinese empires; also (sing.), the language of the Calmucks. [Written also Kalmucks.]

Calm"y (?), a. [Fr. Calm, n.] Tranquil; peaceful; calm. [Poet.] "A still and calmy day" Spenser.

Cal"o*mel (kăl"&osl;*m&ebreve;l), n. [Gr. kalo`s beautiful + me`las black. So called from its being white, though made from a black mixture of mercury and corrosive sublimate. Cf. F. calomÚlas.] (Chem.) Mild chloride of mercury, Hg2Cl2, a heavy, white or yellowish white substance, insoluble and tasteless, much used in medicine as a mercurial and purgative; mercurous chloride. It occurs native as the mineral horn quicksilver.

Cal`o*res"cence (?), n. [L. calor heat.] (Physics) The conversion of obscure radiant heat into light; the transmutation of rays of heat into others of higher refrangibility. Tyndall.

Ca*lor"ic (?), n. [L. calor heat; cf. F. calorique.] (Physics) The principle of heat, or the agent to which the phenomena of heat and combustion were formerly ascribed; -- not now used in scientific nomenclature, but sometimes used as a general term for heat.

Caloric expands all bodies. Henry.

Ca*lor"ic, a. Of or pertaining to caloric.

Caloric engine, a kind of engine operated by heated air.

Cal`o*ric"ity (?), n. (Physiol.) A faculty in animals of developing and preserving the heat necessary to life, that is, the animal heat.

Ca*lor"i*duct (?), n. [L. calor heat (fr. calere to warm) + E. duct.] A tube or duct for conducting heat; a caliduct.

Cal"o*rie (?), n. [F., fr. L. calor heat.] (Physics) The unit of heat according to the French standard; the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram (sometimes, one gram) of water one degree centigrade, or from 0░ to 1░. Compare the English standard unit, Foot pound.

Ca*lor`i*fa"cient (?), a. (Physiol.) See Calorificient.

Ca*lor"i*fere (?), n. [F. calorifŔre, fr. L. calor heat + ferre to bear.] An apparatus for conveying and distributing heat, especially by means of hot water circulating in tubes.

Ca*lor`i*fi"ant (?), a. (Physiol.) See Calorificient.

Cal`o*rif"ic (?), a. [L. calorificus; calor heat + facere to make; cf. F. calorifique.] Possessing the quality of producing heat; heating.

Calorific rays, the invisible, heating rays which emanate from the sun, and from burning and heated bodies.

Ca*lor`i*fi*ca"tion (k&adot;*l&obreve;r`&ibreve;*f&ibreve;*kā"shŭn), n. [Cf. F. calorification.] Production of heat, esp. animal heat.

Ca*lor`i*fi"cient (?), a. (Physiol.) Having, or relating to the power of producing heat; -- applied to foods which, being rich in carbon, as the fats, are supposed to give rise to heat in the animal body by oxidation.

Cal`o*rim"e*ter (?), n. [L. calor heat + -meter; cf. F. calorimŔtre.] 1. (Physiol.) An apparatus for measuring the amount of heat contained in bodies or developed by some mechanical or chemical process, as friction, chemical combination, combustion, etc.

2. (Engineering) An apparatus for measuring the proportion of unevaporated water contained in steam.

Ca*lor`i*met"ric (?), a. Of or pertaining to the process of using the calorimeter.

Satisfactory calorimetric results. Nichol.

Cal`o*rim"e*try (?), n. (Physics) Measurement of the quantities of heat in bodies.

Ca*lor`i*mo"tor (?), n. [L. calor heat + E. motor.] (Physics) A voltaic battery, having a large surface of plate, and producing powerful heating effects.

{ ||Ca*lotte" (?), Cal"lot (?) }, n. [F. calotte, dim. of cale a sort of flat cap. Cf. Caul.] A close cap without visor or brim. Especially: (a) Such a cap, worn by English serjeants at law. (b) Such a cap, worn by the French cavalry under their helmets. (c) Such a cap, worn by the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church.

To assume the calotte, to become a priest.

Cal"o*type (?), n. [Gr. kalo`s beautiful + ty`pos type.] (Photog.) A method of taking photographic pictures, on paper sensitized with iodide of silver; -- also called Talbotype, from the inventor, Mr. Fox. Talbot.

Ca*loy"er (?), n. [F., fr. NGr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?; a monk; kalo`s beautiful, good + &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;, equiv. to Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; an old man.] A monk of the Greek Church; a cenobite, anchoret, or recluse of the rule of St. Basil, especially, one on or near Mt. Athos.

Calque, v. t. See 2d Calk, v. t.

{ Cal"trop (?), Cal"trap (?), } n. [OE. calketrappe, calletrappe, caltor (in both senses), fr. AS. collrŠppe, calcetreppe, sort of thistle; cf. F. chaussetrape star thistle, trap, It. calcatreppo, calcatreppolo, star thistle. Perh. from L. calx heel + the same word as E. trap. See 1st Trap.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants (Tribulus) of the order ZygophylleŠ, having a hard several- celled fruit, armed with stout spines, and resembling the military instrument of the same name. The species grow in warm countries, and are often very annoying to cattle.

2. (Mil.) An instrument with four iron points, so disposed that, any three of them being on the ground, the other projects upward. They are scattered on the ground where an enemy's cavalry are to pass, to impede their progress by endangering the horses' feet.

Ca*lum"ba (?), n. [from kalumb, its native name in Mozambique.] (Med.) The root of a plant (Jateorrhiza Calumba, and probably Cocculus palmatus), indigenous in Mozambique. It has an unpleasantly bitter taste, and is used as a tonic and antiseptic. [Written also colombo, columbo, and calombo.]

American calumba, the Frasera Carolinensis, also called American gentian. Its root has been used in medicine as bitter tonic in place of calumba.

Ca*lum"bin (?), n. (Chem.) A bitter principle extracted as a white crystalline substance from the calumba root. [Written also colombin, and columbin]

Cal"u*met (?), n. [F. calumet, fr. L. calamus reed. See Halm, and cf. Shawm.] A kind of pipe, used by the North American Indians for smoking tobacco. The bowl is usually made of soft red stone, and the tube is a long reed often ornamented with feathers.

Smoked the calumet, the Peace pipe, As a signal to the nations. Lowgfellow.

&fist; The calumet is used as a symbol of peace. To accept the calumet is to agree to terms of peace, and to refuse it is to reject them. The calumet of peace is used to seal or ratify contracts and alliances, and as an evidence to strangers that they are welcome.

Ca*lum"ni*ate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Calumniated; p. pr. & vb. n. calumniating.] [L. calumniatus, p. p. of calumniari. See Calumny, and cf. Challenge, v. t.] To accuse falsely and maliciously of a crime or offense, or of something disreputable; to slander; to libel.

Hatred unto the truth did always falsely report and calumniate all godly men's doings. Strype.

Syn. -- To asperse; slander; defame; vilify; traduce; belie; bespatter; blacken; libel. See Asperse.

Ca*lum"ni*ate, v. i. To propagate evil reports with a design to injure the reputation of another; to make purposely false charges of some offense or crime.

Ca*lum`ni*a"tion (k&adot;*lŭm`n&ibreve;*ā"shŭn), n. False accusation of crime or offense, or a malicious and false representation of the words or actions of another, with a view to injure his good name.

The calumniation of her principal counselors. Bacon.

Ca*lum`ni*a"tor (?), n. [L.] One who calumniates.

Syn. -- Slanderer; defamer; libeler; traducer.

Ca*lum"ni*a*to*ry (?), a. Containing calumny; slanderous. Montagu.

Ca*lum"ni*ous (?), a. [L. calumniosus.] Containing or implying calumny; false, malicious, and injurious to reputation; slanderous; as, calumnious reports.

Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes. Shak.

. Slanderous; defamatory; scurrilous; opprobrious; derogatory; libelous; abusive.

-- Ca*lum"ni*ous*ly, adv. -- Ca*lum"ni*ous*ness, n.

Cal"um*ny (?), n.; pl. Calumnies (#). [L. calumnia, fr. calvi to devise tricks, deceive; cf. F. calomnie. Cf. Challenge, n.] False accusation of a crime or offense, maliciously made or reported, to the injury of another; malicious misrepresentation; slander; detraction. "Infamous calumnies." Motley.

Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Shak.

||Cal*va"ri*a (kăl*vā"r&ibreve;*&adot;), n. [L. See Calvary.] (Anat.) The bones of the cranium; more especially, the bones of the domelike upper portion.

Cal"va*ry (kăl"v&adot;*r&ybreve;), n. [L. calvaria a bare skull, fr. calva the scalp without hair. fr. calvus bald; cf. F. calvaire.] 1. The place where Christ was crucified, on a small hill outside of Jerusalem. Luke xxiii. 33.

&fist; The Latin calvaria is a translation of the Greek krani`on of the Evangelists, which is an interpretation of the Hebrew Golgotha. Dr. W. Smith.

2. A representation of the crucifixion, consisting of three crosses with the figures of Christ and the thieves, often as large as life, and sometimes surrounded by figures of other personages who were present at the crucifixion.

3. (Her.) A cross, set upon three steps; -- more properly called cross calvary.

Calve (kńv), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Calved 3; p. pr. & vb. n. Calving.] [AS. cealfian. See Calf.] 1. To bring forth a calf. "Their cow calveth." Job xxi. 10.

2. To bring forth young; to produce offspring.

Canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? Job xxxix. 1.

The grassy clods now calved. Molton.

Cal"ver (kăl"v&etilde;r), v. i. 1. To cut in slices and pickle, as salmon. [Obs.]

For a change, leave calvered salmon and eat sprats. Massinger.

2. To crimp; as, calvered salmon. Nares.

Cal"ver, v. i. To bear, or be susceptible of, being calvered; as, grayling's flesh will calver. Catton.

Calves"*snout (?), n. (Bot.) Snapdragon.

Cal"vin*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. Calvinisme.] The theological tenets or doctrines of John Calvin (a French theologian and reformer of the 16th century) and his followers, or of the so-called calvinistic churches.

&fist; The distinguishing doctrines of this system, usually termed the five points of Calvinism, are original sin or total depravity, election or predestination, particular redemption, effectual calling, and the perseverance of the saints. It has been subject to many variations and modifications in different churches and at various times.

Cal"vin*ist (?), n. [Cf. F. Calviniste.] A follower of Calvin; a believer in Calvinism.

{ Cal`vin*is"tic (?), Cal`vin*is"tic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to Calvin, or Calvinism; following Calvin; accepting or Teaching Calvinism. "Calvinistic training." Lowell.

Cal"vin*ize (?), v. t. To convert to Calvinism.

Calv"ish (?), a. Like a calf; stupid. Sheldon.

Calx (?), n.; pl. E. Calxes (#), L. Calces (#). [L. Calx, calcis. limestone; cf. Gr. &?; gravel. &?;, &?;, pebble, Skr. &?; gravel, Ir. carraic rock Gael. carraig, W. careg, stone. Cf. Chalk.]

1. (Chem.) (a) Quicklime. [Obs.] (b) The substance which remains when a metal or mineral has been subjected to calcination or combustion by heat, and which is, or may be, reduced to a fine powder.

&fist; Metallic calxes are now called oxides.

2. Broken and refuse glass, returned to the post.

{ Ca*lyc`i*flo"ral (?), cal*lyc`i*flo"rous (?), } a. [L. calyx, -ycis, calyx + flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.) Having the petals and stamens adnate to the calyx; -- applied to a subclass of dicotyledonous plants in the system of the French botanist Candolle.

Ca*lyc"i*form (?), a. [L. calyx, calycis, calyx + -form.] (Bot.) Having the form or appearance of a calyx.

{ Ca*lyc"i*nal (?), Cal"y*cine (?), } a. (Bot.) Pertaining to a calyx; having the nature of a calyx.

Cal"y*cle (?), n. [L. calyculus small flower bud, calyx, dim. of calyx. See Calyx, and cf. Calicle.] (Bot.) A row of small bracts, at the base of the calyx, on the outside.

Cal"y*cled (?), a. (Bot.) Calyculate.

||Cal`y*co*zo"a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, cup or calyx a flower + &?; animal.] (Zo÷l.) A group of acalephs of which Lucernaria is the type. The body is cup-shaped with eight marginal lobes bearing clavate tentacles. An aboral sucker serves for attachment. The interior is divided into four large compartments. See Lucernarida.

Ca*lyc"u*lar (?), a. (Bot.) Pertaining to, or resembling, the bracts of a calycle.

{ Ca*lyc"u*late (?), Ca*lyc"u*la`ted (?) }, a. (Bot.) Having a set of bracts resembling a calyx.

Ca*lym"e*ne (?), n. [Gr. (&?;) concealed, p. p. of &?; to conceal.] (Zo÷l.) A genus of trilobites characteristic of the Silurian age.

Cal"yon (?), n. Flint or pebble stone, used in building walls, etc. Haliwell.

Ca*lyp"so (k&adot;*l&ibreve;p"s&osl;), n. [The Latinized Greek name of a beautiful nymph.] (Bot.) A small and beautiful species of orchid, having a flower variegated with purple, pink, and yellow. It grows in cold and wet localities in the northern part of the United States. The Calypso borealis is the only orchid which reaches 68░ N.

Ca*lyp"tra (k&adot;*l&ibreve;p"tr&adot;), n. [NL., fr. Gr. kaly`ptra a covering for the head, fr. kaly`ptein to cover.] (Bot.) A little hood or veil, resembling an extinguisher in form and position, covering each of the small flasklike capsules which contain the spores of mosses; also, any similar covering body.

Ca*lyp"tri*form (?), a. [Calyptra + -form.] Having the form a calyptra, or extinguisher.

Ca"lyx (kā"l&ibreve;ks; 277), n.; pl. E. Calyxes (#), L. Calyces (kăl"&ibreve;*sēz). [L. calyx, -ycis, fr. Gr. ka`lyx husk, shell, calyx, from the root of kaly`ptein to cover, conceal. Cf. Chalice Helmet.] 1. (Bot.) The covering of a flower. See Flower.

&fist; The calyx is usually green and foliaceous, but becomes delicate and petaloid in such flowers as the anemone and the four-o'clock. Each leaf of the calyx is called a sepal.

2. (Anat.) A cuplike division of the pelvis of the kidney, which surrounds one or more of the renal papillŠ.

Cal*zoons" (kăl*z&oomac;nz"), n. pl. [F. calešons (cf. It. calzoni breeches), fr. L. calceus shoe.] Drawers. [Obs.]

Cam (kăm), n. [Dan. kam comb, ridge; or cf. W., Gael., and Ir., cam bent. See 1st Comb.] 1. (Med.) (a) A turning or sliding piece which, by the shape of its periphery or face, or a groove in its surface, imparts variable or intermittent motion to, or receives such motion from, a rod, lever, or block brought into sliding or rolling contact with it. (b) A curved wedge, movable about an axis, used for forcing or clamping two pieces together. (c) A projecting part of a wheel or other moving piece so shaped as to give alternate or variable motion to another piece against which it acts.

&fist; Cams are much used in machinery involving complicated, and irregular movements, as in the sewing machine, pin machine, etc.

2. A ridge or mound of earth. [Prow. Eng.] Wright.

Cam wheel (Mach.), a wheel with one or more projections (cams) or depressions upon its periphery or upon its face; one which is set or shaped eccentrically, so that its revolutions impart a varied, reciprocating, or intermittent motion.

Cam (?), a. [See Kam.] Crooked. [Obs.]

Ca*ma"ieu (?), n. [F.; of unknown origin. Cf. Cameo.] 1. A cameo. [Obs.] Crabb.

2. (Fine Arts) Painting in shades of one color; monochrome. Mollett.

Ca*mail" (?), n. [F. camail (cf. It. camaglio), fr. L. caput head + source of E. mail.] 1. (Ancient Armor) A neck guard of chain mall, hanging from the bascinet or other headpiece.

2. A hood of other material than mail; esp. (Eccl.), a hood worn in church services, -- the amice, or the like.

||Cam`a*ra*sau"rus (?), n. [NL. fr. Gr. &?; a vaulted chamber + &?; lizard.] (Paleon.) A genus of gigantic American Jurassic dinosaurs, having large cavities in the bodies of the dorsal vertebrŠ.

||Ca`ma*ril"la (?), n. [Sp., a small room.]

1. The private audience chamber of a king.

2. A company of secret and irresponsible advisers, as of a king; a cabal or clique.

Cam"ass (?), n. [American Indian name.] (Bot.) A blue-flowered liliaceous plant (Camassia esculenta) of northwestern America, the bulbs of which are collected for food by the Indians. [Written also camas, cammas, and quamash.]

&fist; The Eastern cammass is Camassia Fraseri.

Cam"ber (?), n. [Of. cambre bent, curved; akin to F. cambrer to vault, to bend, fr. L. camerare to arch over, fr. camera vault, arch. See Chamber, and cf. Camerate.] 1. (Shipbuilding) An upward convexity of a deck or other surface; as, she has a high camber (said of a vessel having an unusual convexity of deck).

2. (Arch.) An upward concavity in the under side of a beam, girder, or lintel; also, a slight upward concavity in a straight arch. See Hogback.

Camber arch (Arch.), an arch whose intrados, though apparently straight, has a slightly concave curve upward. -- Camber beam (Arch.), a beam whose under side has a concave curve upward.

Cam"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cambered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Cambering.] To cut bend to an upward curve; to construct, as a deck, with an upward curve.

Cam"ber, v. i. To curve upward.

Cam"ber*keeled (?), a. (Naut.) Having the keel arched upwards, but not actually hogged; -- said of a ship.

Cam"bi*al (?), a. [LL. cambialis, fr. cambiars. See Change.] Belonging to exchanges in commerce; of exchange. [R.]

Cam"bist (?), n. [F. cambiste, It. cambista, fr. L. cambire to exchange. See Change.] A banker; a money changer or broker; one who deals in bills of exchange, or who is skilled in the science of exchange.

Cam"bist*ry (?), n. The science of exchange, weight, measures, etc.

Cam"bi*um (?), n. [LL. cambium exchange, fr. L. cambire to exchange. It was supposed that cambium was sap changing into wood.] 1. (Bot.) A series of formative cells lying outside of the wood proper and inside of the inner bark. The growth of new wood takes place in the cambium, which is very soft.

2. (Med.) A fancied nutritive juice, formerly supposed to originate in the blood, to repair losses of the system, and to promote its increase. Dunglison.

Cam"blet (?), n. See Camlet.

Cam*boge" (?), n. See Gamboge.

Cam*boose" (?), n. (Naut.) See Caboose.

Cam"bra*sine (?), n. A kind of linen cloth made in Egypt, and so named from its resemblance to cambric.

Cam"brel (?), n. See Gambrel, n., 2. Wright.

Cam"bri*a (?), n. The ancient Latin name of Wales. It is used by modern poets.

Cam"bri*an (?), a. 1. (Geog.) Of or pertaining to Cambria or Wales.

2. (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the lowest subdivision of the rocks of the Silurian or Molluscan age; -- sometimes described as inferior to the Silurian. It is named from its development in Cambria or Wales. See the Diagram under Geology.

Cam"bri*an, n. 1. A native of Cambria or Wales.

2. (Geol.) The Cambrian formation.

Cam"bric (?), n. [OE. camerike, fr. Cambrai (Flemish Kamerik), a city of France (formerly of Flanders), where it was first made.] 1. A fine, thin, and white fabric made of flax or linen.

He hath ribbons of all the colors i' the rainbow; . . . inkles, caddises, cambrics, lawns. Shak.

2. A fabric made, in imitation of linen cambric, of fine, hardspun cotton, often with figures of various colors; -- also called cotton cambric, and cambric muslin.

Cam"bro-Brit"on (?), n. A Welshman.

Came (?), imp. of Come.