What does "caul" mean?
A style of close-fitting circular cap worn by women in the sixteenth century and later, often made of linen.
Caul
/kɔl/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A style of close-fitting circular cap worn by women in the sixteenth century and later, often made of linen.
- Grammar: caul is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: amnion, amniotic sac, caul fat, embryonic membrane.
- Useful contrasts: rhizome, root.
- Usage evidence: Ne spared they to strip her naked all. / Then when they had despoild her tire and call, / Such as she was, their eyes might her behold […]
How to use "caul"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "caul" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "caul" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "caul" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "caul" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "caul" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "amnion" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "caul", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A style of close-fitting circular cap worn by women in the sixteenth century and later, often made of linen. historical
"Ne spared they to strip her naked all. / Then when they had despoild her tire and call, / Such as she was, their eyes might her behold […]"
- 2 the inner membrane of embryos in higher vertebrates (especially when covering the head at birth) wordnet
- 3 An entry to a mill lead taken from a burn or stream (a mill lead (or mill waterway) is generally smaller than a canal but moves a large volume of water). British, capitalized, historical, often
- 4 part of the peritoneum attached to the stomach and to the colon and covering the intestines wordnet
- 5 A membrane.
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 The thin membrane which covers the lower intestines; the omentum.
- 7 The amnion which encloses the foetus before birth, especially that part of it which sometimes shrouds a baby’s head at birth (traditionally considered to be good luck).
"I was born with a caul, which was advertised for sale, in the newspapers, at the low price of fifteen guineas."
- 8 The surface of a press that makes contact with panel product, especially a removable plate or sheet.
- 9 A strip or block of wood used to distribute or direct clamping force.
- 10 Caul fat.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Ne spared they to strip her naked all. / Then when they had despoild her tire and call, / Such as she was, their eyes might her behold […]"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "caul"?
Common synonyms include: amnion, amniotic sac, caul fat, embryonic membrane, gastrocolic omentum, greater omentum.
How do you use "caul" in a sentence?
Ne spared they to strip her naked all. / Then when they had despoild her tire and call, / Such as she was, their eyes might her behold […]
How do you pronounce "caul"?
Pronounced /kɔl/.
Etymology
From Middle English calle, kelle, kalle, kolle (“caul, net, basket”), from Old English cāwl, cāul, cēawl, cēaul (“basket, container, net, sieve”), of uncertain origin. Reinforced by Old French cale (“close-fitting cap”), possibly a borrowing of the Old English term above, or alternatively related to Old French calotte (“headdress”), from Italian callotta, from Latin calautica (“type of female headdress which fell down over the shoulders”), itself of unknown origin. Cognate with Scots kell (“caul”).