calkin

US: (kô′kin, kal′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cal•kin  (kô′kin, kal′-), n. 

1. calk² (def. 1).

• Latin calcāneum heel; see calcaneum
• Old French (Walloon) calcain
• Middle Dutch calcoen hoof
• late Middle English kakun 1400–50

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

calk¹ /kɔk/   v., n. 

1. Building, Naval Terms (chiefly in technical use) caulk.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

calk¹  (kôk), v.t., n. 

1. Building, Naval Terms caulk.

calk²  (kôk), n. 

1. Also, calkin. a projection on a horseshoe to prevent slipping on ice, pavement, etc. See illus. under horseshoe. 
2. Clothing Also, calker. a similar device on the heel or sole of a shoe to prevent slipping.

v.t. 

3. to provide with calks.
4. to injure with a calk.

• perh. a back formation from calkin, taken as a verb calk + -in present participle suffix (Middle English -inde), confused with -ing² 1580–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

calk / kɔːk/ verb

1. a variant spelling of caulk

calk / kɔːk/, calkin / ˈkɔːkɪn ˈkæl-/ noun

1. a metal projection on a horse's shoe to prevent slipping

verb (transitive)

1. to provide with calks

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin calx heel