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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
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 June 2025
The dining party included the Giants’ quarterbacks, running backs and offensive linemen, who indulged in delicacies such as calamari, clams and oysters.
—Peter Sblendorio, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025
On plates, squid is a sustainable protein in dishes like calamari.
—Jules Jacobs, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2025
The following day, the researchers battered and quickly deep-fried their vegan calamari before proceeding to the taste tests.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Calamari.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calamari. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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calamari
noun
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