călămister, tri, m. (ante- and postclass.; nom. not found; also călămi-strum, i, n., Plaut. Curc. 4, 4, 21; Varr. L. L. 5, § 129 Müll.; Non. p. 546, 16; Serv. ad Verg. A. 12, 100; Isid. Orig. 20, 13, 4.—Plur.: calamistra, Varr. ap. Charis. p. 61 P.) [calamus], a hollow, tubular iron for curling the hair, a curling-iron, crisping-pin.
I Lit.: calamistrum quod his calfactis in cinere capillus ornatur, Varr. L. L. l. l.; Serv. l. l.; cf. Isid. Orig. l. l.; 10, 57: meum, Plaut. Curc. l. l.: calamistri vestigia, Cic. post Red. in Sen. 7, 16: crines calamistro convertere, Petr. 102, 15: L. (i. e. libertae) A CALAMISTRO, women who curl hair , Inscr. Murat. 991, 2.—
II Trop., of discourse, excessive or artificial ornament , flourish of words : tum removebitur omnis insignis ornatus quasi margaritarum, ne calamistri quidem adhibebuntur, Cic. Or. 23, 78; so id. Brut. 75, 262: calamistri Maecenatis et tinnitus Gallionis, Tac. Or. 26.