1. past tense of calk: to seal the seams of a wooden ship with waterproof material (oakum and tar)
Usage: nautical; also spelled 'caulked'
2. past tense of calk: to provide (a shoe or boot) with a metal projection on the sole for traction on ice or slippery surfaces
Usage: chiefly North American

Examples

• The shipwright calked the hull to prevent water from leaking through the wooden planks.
• The sailors calked every seam before the vessel set sail.
• She calked her winter boots to improve grip on icy sidewalks.
• The carpenter calked the gaps between the boards with tar and rope fibers.
• Workers calked the ship's deck to make it watertight.