mkalamu

How to say it

Meaning

a reed or piece of bamboo traditionally cut and used as a pen for writing.

Good to know

archaic; related to the modern word kalamu, 'pen'.

Examples

• Waalimu wa zamani waliandika kwa mkalamu na wino.Teachers of old wrote with a reed pen and ink.
• Je, mkalamu ulitengenezwa kwa mwanzi gani?What kind of bamboo was the reed pen made from?
• Alichonga mkalamu wake mwenyewe kabla ya kuandika.He carved his own reed pen before writing.