Calque
/kælk/noun
A word or phrase borrowed from another language by literal translation of its components.
Did you know?A calque is basically a “loan translation,” where a language secretly rebuilds a foreign expression using its own native materials instead of importing the original sound.
Etymological Timeline
17th–18th Century
French
calque
“A tracing, copy, or tracing-paper impression; later, a literal translation from another language.”
Late Latin
Latin
calcare
“To tread on, press, or stamp down.”
Classical Latin
Latin
calx
“Heel; also a limestone or chalky substance in later use.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kal-
“To strike, drive, or press.”
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