cale

wedge, chock; hold (of a ship)

noun KAL Rare

Usage Note

Cale has two main meanings: a wooden or rubber wedge used to stabilise an object (mettre une cale sous une roue — to put a chock under a wheel), and the cargo hold of a ship or aircraft. The adjective calé (from caler) informally means 'knowledgeable, clever'.

Examples

"Place une cale sous la roue pour bloquer la voiture."

Natural Translation

Put a wedge under the wheel to stop the car.

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