Calamus

·noun The horny basal portion of a feather; the barrel or quill.

II. Calamus ·noun The indian cane, a plant of the Palm family. It furnishes the common rattan. ·see Rattan, and Dragon's blood.

III. Calamus ·noun A species of Acorus (A. calamus), commonly called calamus, or sweet flag. The root has a pungent, aromatic taste, and is used in medicine as a stomachic; the leaves have an aromatic odor, and were formerly used instead of rushes to strew on floors.