callis, is, m. (fem., Varr. R. R. 2, 2, 10; Liv. 22, 14, 8; 31, 42, 8; 36, 15, 9; Curt. 3, 10, 10; 4, 16, 11; Amm. 30, 1, 15; 31, 10, 9; cf. Neue, Formenl. 1, p. 673) [etym. dub.; acc. to Serv. ad Verg. A. 4, 405, and Isid. Orig. 15, 16, 10, from callum; cf. Doed. Syn. IV. p. 68], a stony, uneven, narrow footway, a foot-path, a mountain-path, etc.; most freq., a path made by the treading of cattle: callis est iter pecudum inter montes angustum et tritum, a callo pecudum perduratum, Isid. Orig. l. l.: callis = via pecorum vestigiis trita, Vet. Gloss.
I Lit.: per calles silvestres, Varr. R. R. 2, 9 fin. ; 2, 10, 1 and 3; Cic. Sest. 5, 12 Orell.: inde prope inviis callibus ad dictatorem perfugerunt, Liv. 22, 15, 10; cf. id. 32, 11, 2; Verg. A. 4, 405; cf. Ov. M. 7, 626 al.: per calles ignotos, Liv. 31, 42, 8; 35, 27, 6; 36, 15, 9; 38, 2, 10; Curt. 7, 11, 7: secreti, Verg. A. 6, 443: surgens, Pers. 4 (3), 57.—
II Transf.
A A mountain-pasturage , alp , declivity , mountain-pass , defile (cf. Vogel ad Curt. 3, 10, 10 N. cr. ): rara per occultos lucebat semita calles, Verg. A. 9, 383 Heyne: nos hic pecorum modo per aestivos saltus deviasque callis exercitum ducimus, Liv. 22, 14, 8: per calles saltusque Macedonicorum montium, id. 44, 36, 10: in Ciliciae angustiis et inviis callibus dimicare, Curt. 4, 13, 6: angustis in Ciliciae callibus, id. 4, 9, 22; 5, 4, 4; 5, 4, 17; Liv. 35, 30, 10: quaestor, cui provincia vetere ex more calles evenerant, Tac. A. 4, 27 Orell. and Draeg. ad loc.; cf.: (provincia) semitae callesque, Suet. Aug. 19: calles consitae arboribus, Amm. 31, 10, 9.—
B A way , path , road , in gen., Val. Fl. 3, 568; 5, 394 (but in Lucr. 6, 92, the correct read. is calcis, not callis; v. Lachm. ad h. l.).