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The word calamari was borrowed into English from 17th-century Italian, where it functioned as the plural of "calamaro" or "calamaio." The Italian word, in turn, comes from the Medieval Latin noun calamarium, meaning "ink pot or "pen case," and can be ultimately traced back to Latin calamus, meaning "reed pen." The transition from pens and ink to squid is not surprising, given the inky substance that a squid ejects and the long tapered shape of the squid's body. English speakers have also adopted "calamus" itself as a word referring to both a reed pen and to a number of plants.
Examples of calamari in a Sentence
Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
There’s calamari fritti and Mediterranean octopus.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
In 2020, the Democratic National Convention caught some flack from outspoken Rhode Islanders for showcasing calamari as the state's best dish instead of the quintessentially Rhode Island stuffed clam or stuffie.
—Rin Velasco, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
The jampong was abundant with calamari, octopus and mussels, if a little overboiled for my tastes.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Calamari.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calamari. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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calamari
noun
