I. ˈkaləs adjective
Etymology: Middle French calleux, from Latin callosus, from callum, callus callous skin; akin to Sanskrit kiṇa callosity, Old Irish calath hard
1. : hardened and thickened
callous skin on the heel
callous plant bark
: having callouses
with labouring callous hands — William Congreve
2.
a. : hardened in sensibility : feeling no emotion
piety … is made callous and inactive by kneeling too much — W.S.Landor
b. : feeling no sympathy for others : without regard for the feelings or welfare of others : indifferent to the suffering of others
a callous disregard for human rights — W.O.Douglas
• cal·lous·ly adverb
• cal·lous·ness noun -es
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
: to make callous
III.
variant of callus