Cal"a*mine (?), n. [F. calamine, LL. calamina, fr. L. Cabmia. See Cadmia.] min.
A mineral, the hydrous silicate of zinc.
The name was formerly applied to both the carbonate and silicate of zinc each of which is valuable as an ore; but it is now usually restricted to the latter, the former being called smithsonite.
© Webster 1913.