# callus

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkæləs/ · frequency rank #47,517

## Definitions
1. A hardened area of the skin (especially on the foot or hand) caused by repeated friction, wear or use.
2. The material of repair in fractures of bone; a substance exuded at the site of fracture, which is at first soft or cartilaginous in consistency, but is ultimately converted into true bone and unites the fragments into a single piece.
3. The new formation over the end of a cutting, before it puts out rootlets.
4. In orchids, a fleshy outgrowth from the labellum.
5. In grasses, a hardened extension from the base of a floret, which may or may not elongate and is often covered in hairs or bristles.
6. A shining area on the frons of many species of Tabanomorpha (horse flies and relatives).

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin callum (“hard skin”). Displaced Old English wearr.

## Easily confused with
- **cells** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callus-vs-cells)
- **Claus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callus-vs-claus)
- **Calum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callus-vs-calum)
- **Camus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callus-vs-camus)
- **Cally** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callus-vs-cally)
- **campus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callus-vs-campus)
- **Carlos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callus-vs-carlos)
- **caucus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callus-vs-caucus)
- **calves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callus-vs-calves)
- **call** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/call-vs-callus)
- **calls** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/calls-vs-callus)
- **called** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/called-vs-callus)
- **cables** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cables-vs-callus)
- **caller** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/caller-vs-callus)
- **cactus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cactus-vs-callus)
- **Calais** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/calais-vs-callus)
- **Callum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callum-vs-callus)
- **Callie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callie-vs-callus)
- **Callan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callan-vs-callus)
- **callous** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/callous-vs-callus)

## Common misspellings (6)
`acllus`, `callsu`, `calluss`, `caluls`, `ccallus`, `clalus`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/callus