Kozhikode

English

Alternative forms

Calicut

Etymology

From Malayalam കോഴിക്കോട് (kōḻikkōṭŭ). The name probably corresponds to Ancient Greek Καλαικαρίας (Kalaikarías), mentioned by Ptolemy,^[1] of uncertain meaning. The second element is likely Sanskrit कोट (koṭa, “fortress, palace”). The first element could be from Kali, wife of Shiva, meaning "palace of Kali," or it could instead be a Dravidian name கல்லியை (kalliyai).^[2]

The anglicized variant of the name is Calicut.

Proper noun

Kozhikode

A city in Kerala, in southwestern India.

Related terms

calico

Translations

a city in Kerala, southwestern India

Arabic: قاليقوط, كاليكوت, كوجيكود, كوريكود
Chinese:
Mandarin: 科泽科德 (zh), 卡利卡特 (zh) (Kǎlìkǎtè), 卡利庫特 / 卡利库特, 古里 (zh)
Dutch: Kozhikode, Calicoet (historical), Calicut (historical), Calcoen
Hindi: कोड़िकोड (koṛikoḍ), क़ालीक़ूत (qālīqūt)
Kannada: ಕಲ್ಲಿಕೋಟೆ (kallikōṭe)
Malayalam: കോഴിക്കോട് (ml) (kōḻikkōṭŭ)
Marathi: कोळीकोड (koḷīkoḍ)
Persian: کالیکوت
Portuguese: Calecute (pt) f
Tamil: கோழிக்கோடு (kōḻikkōṭu), கள்ளிக்கோட்டை (kaḷḷikkōṭṭai)
Telugu: please add this translation if you can

References

^ Menon, A. Sreedhara (1965). Kerala District Gazetteers: Kozhikode - Gazetteer of India, Volume 5 of Kerala District Gazetteers, Kerala (India). Superintendent of Govt. Presses.
^ Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “calico”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

[1] Menon, A. Sreedhara (1965). Kerala District Gazetteers: Kozhikode - Gazetteer of India, Volume 5 of Kerala District Gazetteers, Kerala (India). Superintendent of Govt. Presses.

[2] Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “calico”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

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