calumet

See also: Calumet

English

Etymology

From a Norman variant of Old French chalumeau (imported to Canada with Norman colonists), from Latin calamellus, diminutive of calamus (“reed”), from Ancient Greek κάλαμος (kálamos).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkæljʊmɛt/

Noun

calumet (plural calumets)

1. A clay tobacco pipe used by Native Americans, especially as a symbol of truce or peace.
   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:

     THE CALUMET OF PEACE. He offered a cigarette to the professor and took one himself.

   • 2010, William Ingraham Kip, The Early Jesuit Missions in North America‎^[1], page 283:

     When the chief has directed them to approach, they advance; those who have the calumets, chant and dance with much agility, now turning around each other, and now presenting themselves in front, but always with violent movements and extraordinary contortions.

Synonyms

• peace pipe
• pipe of peace

Translations

pipe of peace

• Bulgarian: лула на мира (lula na mira)
• Indonesian: kalumet (id)
• Italian: calumet della pace m, pipa della pace f
• Polish: kalumet (pl) m

French

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka.ly.mɛ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

calumet m (plural calumets)

1. calumet (clay tobacco-pipe used by American Indians, especially as a symbol of truce or peace)
   • 1947, Boris Vian, L'écume des jours, Kindle edition:

     Il avait aussi à côté de lui une cuvette pour rendre son goujon, et une serviette humide pour se rafraîchir les tempes, et un flacon d’alcool de menthe de Ricqlès pour corser l’effet du calumet.

     Beside him there was also a basin to return his gouge, and a wet towel to refresh his temples, and a flask of Ricqlès mint alcohol to enhance the effect of the pipe.

Derived terms

• calumet de la paix

Further reading

• “calumet”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.