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calyx or calix

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 4:11 pm
by Philip Hudson
In defining a “cotton square” to a friend, I said that it was the “calix” of a cotton flower. Challenged by my friend, I looked up the word in several dictionaries. Most of them did not define “calix” at all. Some did. It was defined as a cup or a chalice. That made sense since the “calix” I was thinking about resembles a little green cup from which the petals and reproductive organs of the flower emerge. Finally, my friend suggested I look for the word “calyx”. I did and got the biological definition I was looking for. If I were good at spelling this would never have happened. Since it happened, I have had the serendipity of discovery. Are these two words alternate spellings of the same word? Did they diverge with divergent definitions? Because of this adventure, I recommend calyx, and calix, as a Good Word. I am interested in seeing what the Good Doctor has to say about it. By the way, I am pretty sure, Good Doctor, you know the definition of a “cotton square” even though it isn’t in the dictionary. You picked your share of cotton back in the day.

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 5:22 pm
by Perry Lassiter
Cotton square cubed = one bale?

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:52 pm
by Philip Hudson
Weeeel, a bale isn't exactly a cube. But the humor fits - sort of.