Caul

Caul
Caul Caul (k[add]l), n. [OE. calle, kelle, prob. fr. F. cale; cf. Ir. calla a veil.] 1. A covering of network for the head, worn by women; also, a net. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

2. (Anat.) The fold of membrane loaded with fat, which covers more or less of the intestines in mammals; the great omentum. See {Omentum}. [1913 Webster]

The caul serves for the warming of the lower belly. --Ray. [1913 Webster]

3. A part of the amnion, one of the membranes enveloping the fetus, which sometimes is round the head of a child at its birth; -- called also a {veil}. [1913 Webster +PJC]

It is deemed lucky to be with a caul or membrane over the face. This caul is esteemed an infallible preservative against drowning . . . According to Chrysostom, the midwives frequently sold it for magic uses. --Grose. [1913 Webster]

I was born with a caul, which was advertised for sale, in the newspapers, at the low price of fifteen guineas. --Dickens. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • caul — caul·dron; caul; nu·di·caul; rhi·zo·caul; fou·caul·di·an; …   English syllables

  • caul- — cauli , caule ❖ ♦ Éléments, du lat. caulis « tige ». ⇒ Acaule, caulescent, 1. caulicole, caulinaire …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • caul — v. cauli . Trimis de LauraGellner, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DN …   Dicționar Român

  • caul — early 14c., close fitting cap worn by women, from Fr. cale cap, back formation from calotte, from It. callotta, from L. calautica type of female headdress with pendent lappets, a foreign word of unknown origin. Medical use, in reference to… …   Etymology dictionary

  • caul — ► NOUN ▪ the amniotic membrane enclosing a fetus, part of which is occasionally found on a baby s head at birth. ORIGIN perhaps from Old French cale head covering …   English terms dictionary

  • caul — [kôl] n. [ME calle < OE cawl, basket, container, net < ML cavellum < L cavea, CAGE] 1. the membrane enclosing a fetus; esp., a part of this membrane sometimes enveloping the head of a child at birth: believed by some to bring good luck 2 …   English World dictionary

  • Caul — A caul (Latin: Caput galeatum , literally, head helmet ) is a thin, filmy membrane, the amniotic sac, that covers or partly covers the newborn mammal immediately after birth. It is also the membrane enclosing the paunch of mammals, particularly… …   Wikipedia

  • Caul — Or cowl, a membrane, in obstetrics and cooking. In obstetrics, the caul is the amnion, one of the two fetal membranes, the other being the chorion. To be born in a caul meant to be born with the head covered by the amnion (or be born within an… …   Medical dictionary

  • caul- — combining form or cauli or caulo Etymology: cauli from Latin caulis; caul , caulo from New Latin, from Gk. kaul , kaulo , from kaulos more at hole …   Useful english dictionary

  • Caul fat — is the thin membrane which surrounds the stomach internal organs of some animals, such as hogs, cows, sheep, and pigs, also known as the greater omentum. It is often used as a natural sausage casing and to encase fegatelli (Italian), faggots… …   Wikipedia

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