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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
Anna Butler, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
The mother of two boys loves living in Rancho Santa Fe—her local go-to spots include walking the trails with her dog Bella, enjoying coffee and a cinnamon roll at Thyme In the Ranch, or grabbing an aperitivo and calamari at Nick & G’s.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Kick things off with the calamari fritti, equal parts crispy and airy, the kind of starter that will make even your anti-fried-food friend cave.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
The bar bites were on point with chicken wings in a vibrant green sauce and crispy fried calamari.
—Carole Dixon, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for calamari
Cite this Entry
“Calamari.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calamari. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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calamari
noun
