1. s. penna scriptoria, or, from context, penna only (used first in the eighth century, Isidorus, Orig., 6, 14): calamus scriptorius, or, from context, calamus only (of a reed): stilus (of metal). To split a pen, *pennam or calamum findere: to make a pen, calamum or pennam temperare (after Cic., ad Qu. Fr., 2, 14): to nib a pen, calamum or pennam exacuere (after Plin., 17, 14, 24, § 106): to dip one’s pen in (the ink, etc.), calamum or pennam intiugere (after Quint., 10, 3, 31): to lake up one’s pen, calamum (pennam) sumere; stilum prehendere; ad scribendum se conferre (jo set about writing): to be able to write with any pen, quicunque calamus in manus meas venerit, eo uti tamquam bono (Cic., ad Qu., Fr., 2, 15, no. b, § 1): to guide the pen (the hand) fur anybody, scribentis manum manu superimposita regere (Quint., 1, 1, 27): the pen does not mark, crassum atramentum pendet calamo (after Persius, 3, 11): not to touch a pen, nullam litteram scribere: nothing but what is excellent could come from the pen of such a man, *nil nisi egregium ab ejus viri scriptione prodire poterat.