What is "calamary"

Calamar \Cal"a*mar\ (k[a^]l"[.a]*m[aum]r), Calamary \Cal"a*ma*ry\, (-m[asl]*r[y^]r)n. [LL. calamarium inkstand, fr. L. calamus a reed pen: cf. F. calmar, calemar, pen case, calamar.] (Zo["o]l.) A cephalopod, belonging to the genus Loligo and related genera. There are many species. They have a sack of inklike fluid which they discharge from the siphon tube, when pursued or alarmed, in order to confuse their enemies. Their shell is a thin horny plate, within the flesh of the back, shaped very much like a quill pen. In America they are called squids. See Squid.

n. (context dated English) A squid.

n. (Italian cuisine) squid prepared as food [syn: squid, calamari]