Where does “cal” come from?
cal (Old Portuguese) comes from Vulgar Latin cals, from Latin calx, from Ancient Greek χάλιξ — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.
Ancestry of “cal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Vulgar Latin | cals | — |
| 2 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |