What is the meaning of the word "calamo" ?
It has been asserted that the Second, published in 1620, is not the work of
Shelton, but there is nothing to support the assertion save the fact that
it has less spirit, less of what we generally understand by "go," about
it than the first, which would be only natural if the first were the work
of a young man writing currente calamo, and the second that of a
middle-aged man writing for a bookseller." Don Quixote (Cervantes)

Question

What is the meaning of the word "calamo" ? 
It has been asserted that the Second, published in 1620, is not the work of
Shelton, but there is nothing to support the assertion save the fact that
it has less spirit, less of what we generally understand by "go," about
it than the first, which would be only natural if the first were the work
of a young man writing currente calamo, and the second that of a
middle-aged man writing for a bookseller." Don Quixote (Cervantes)

Answer

The best translation for this word is quill.  It is the feather of a large bird used as a pen when dipped into ink. A pen made from a feather. "He picked up his quill and wrote a poem."

Answer

very easy!
calamo, XV century spanish for arabic "qalam": in english a "ballpen", i think, in french "un stylo". That tool they used then for writting with ink. "currente" i guess it is a semienglishized form for "corriente", again old times spanish for "usual".

Answer

haha, it is a tree live in the north which is very staight.

Answers · 3

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