cal

lime (calcium oxide)

noun KAHL Rare

Origin: from Latin calx (limestone)

Usage Note

Cal refers to quicklime or slaked lime used in construction and whitewashing; encalar (to whitewash) is derived from it. The phrase a cal y canto ('tightly sealed, firmly shut') is a common idiom. Despite ending in a consonant, cal is feminine — la cal — which surprises learners expecting masculine.

Examples

"Pintaron la pared con cal blanca."

Natural Translation

They painted the wall with white lime.

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