calk

1 of 6

verb (1)

variant spelling of caulk

transitive verb

: to stop up and make tight against leakage (something, such as a boat or its seams, the cracks in a window frame, or the joints of a pipe)

calk

2 of 6

noun (1)

variants or caulk
: a cleat on the shoe of a horse to prevent slipping
also : a similar device worn on the sole of a shoe

calk

3 of 6

verb (2)

variants or caulk
calked or caulked; calking or caulking; calks or caulks

transitive verb

1
: to furnish with calks
2
: to wound with a calk

caulk

4 of 6

verb (3)

variants or calk
caulked or calked; caulking or calking; caulks or calks

transitive verb

: to stop up and make tight against leakage (something, such as a boat or its seams, the cracks in a window frame, or the joints of a pipe)
caulker noun

caulk

5 of 6

noun (2)

variants or calk or less commonly caulking or calking
: material used to caulk

caulk

6 of 6

noun (3)

variant spelling of calk entry 2, calk entry 3

: a cleat on the shoe of a horse to prevent slipping
also : a similar device worn on the sole of a shoe

Examples of calk in a Sentence

Verb (3) He carefully caulked the area around the windows.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Hooks: The heel calk’s inside edge is known as the hook due to its sometimes shallow and sometimes very steep inward hook. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 28 July 2025 These holes are filled with square pegs of white pine and new calks driven into the wood. Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 16 Feb. 2019
Verb
Contractors would be responsible for sandblasting, caulking and resurfacing the pool basin, the president told reporters on May 7, as part of an initiative to beautify Washington before the country's 250th birthday. Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 17 June 2026 For weekly maintenance, Stein recommends spraying and wiping down the tiles, scrubbing grout lightly, checking corners and caulking for mildew starting to form, and drying the shower after cleaning to prevent buildup and mold. Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
Noun
This 10-in-1 multi-tool will quickly become a go-to option for any number of jobs around the house, making use of the nail setter to hang pictures, the flathead screwdriver to drive or remove screws, and the caulk cleaner to tidy up caulk lines. Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 10 June 2026 Regular cleaning should include wiping down caulk with a disinfectant to keep mold from growing. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for calk

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably alteration of calkin, from Middle English kakun, from Middle Dutch or Middle French dialect; Middle Dutch calcoen horse's hoof, from Middle French dialect (Walloon) calcain heel, from Latin calcaneum, from calc-, calx heel

Verb (3)

Middle English caulken, from Anglo-French cauker, calcher, chalcher to trample, from Latin calcare, from calc-, calx heel

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1587, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of calk was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Calk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calk. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

calk

variant of caulk

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