Call sb.

Also 4–6 col, calle, (8–9 Sc. ca, 9 Sc. and dial. caw, dial. cawal). [f. prec. vb.]

  1.  A loud vocal utterance or speech, a shout, a cry; a loud vocal address or supplication.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6790. I, for-soth sall here þair call. Ibid., 1377. An o þaim … Be-for ihesus þar made his call.

1678.  Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 207. They gave but a call, and in came their Master.

1704.  Pope, Past., Summer, 83. But would you sing … The moving mountains hear the pow’rful call.

1822.  New Month. Mag., V. 150. You are amused with the perpetual opening and shutting of box doors, and the audible calls of ‘Mrs. So and so’s places.’

  b.  spec. The reading aloud of a roll or list of names; a roll-call: see CALL v. 33 b.

1723.  Bp. Nicolson, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 446. The Commons were very warm yesterday: and their Debates ended in a Call of their Members.

1780.  Burke, Corr. (1844), II. 318. I think to make my motion as soon as possible after the call of the House.

a. 1832.  Mackintosh, Revol. 1688, Wks. 1846, II. 51, note. The attendance was partly caused by a call of the House…. On the call … it appeared that forty were either minors, abroad, or confined by sickness.

  c.  A word or name called; a thing thus mentioned or indicated.

1801.  Strutt, Sports & Past., IV. ii. 296. The other calls at pleasure head or tail; if his call lies uppermost … he wins.

  2.  The cry of an animal, esp. of a bird.

1684.  Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 62. The Hen by her common call, gives no meat to her Chickens.

1773.  Barrington, in Phil. Trans., LXIII. 250. The call of a bird, is that sound which it is able to make, when about a month old.

1833.  Chamb. Jrnl., II. 148. They can hear the call of their calves.

1842.  Tennyson, Locksley Hall, 171. They shall … Whistle back the parrot’s call.

1879.  Jefferies, Wild Life in S. Co., 301. Neither redwing nor fieldfare sings during the winter; they of course have their ‘call’ and cry of alarm.

  3.  A particular cry or sound used to attract or decoy birds, etc.

1530.  Palsgr., 202/2. Call for quaylles, croquaillet.

1590.  Lodge, Euphues’ Gold. Leg. (1887), 98. Aliena smiled to see how Ganymede flew to the fist without any call.

1596.  Raleigh, Disc. Guiana (1887), 76. The deer came … as if they had been used to a Keepers call.

1851.  Illust. Lond. News, 15 Feb., 127. The birds after answering to the call … at last darted off again.

  b.  A small instrument or whistle to attract birds, etc., by imitating their note.

1654.  J. Bate, Myst. Nature & Art, 73–4. They are known among some Shopkeepers, by the names of Cals; and there are long white Boxes of them, which are transported hither from France.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., s.v. Calls, As for the Artificial Calls … they are best made of Box and Walnut Tree, or such hard Woods.

1708.  Kersey, s.v., Among Fowlers, Calls are arteficial Pipes, made to catch Quails, etc.

1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., Different birds require different calls; but most of them are composed of a pipe or reed, with a little leathern bag, somewhat in the form of a bellows.

  † c.  A decoy-bird. lit. and fig. Obs.

1595.  Shaks., John, III. iv. 174. They would be as a Call To traine ten thousand English to their side.

1624.  Massinger, Parl. Love, IV. iii. This fellow has a pimp’s face, And looks as if he were her call, her fetch.

1725.  Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Lark, Those live Birds tyed to the Packthreads are nam’d Calls.

  4.  Hunting. A strain or ‘lesson’ blown upon the horn to cheer and encourage the hounds.

1674.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., I. (1706), 18. The Call, a Lesson blowed on the Horn to comfort the Hounds.

1721.  in Bailey.

  5.  a. The act of calling at a door or place on the way: hence, HOUSE of call. b. A short and usually formal visit: to make, pay, receive, a call.

1783.  Cowper, Task, I. 244. Dependant on the baker’s punctual call.

1816.  Parody, in Times, 25 Jan., 3/1. Enumerate the principal houses of call in and about London.

1862.  Trollope, Orley F., xiv. She had … made a morning call on Martha Biggs.

1875.  B. Taylor, Faust, I. v. 90. We passed, without a call, to-day.

1884.  W. H. Rideing, in Harper’s Mag., Sept., 493/2. The chief interest of Queenstown is as a port of call.

  6.  Summons, invitation, bidding. Also fig.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3022. Mete and drinc he gaue þam all þat wald cum al til his call.

1592.  Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 849. Tapsters answering every call.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 378. Who first, who last … At thir great Emperors call … Came singly where he stood.

1752.  Johnson, Rambl., No. 204, ¶ 5. His call was readily obeyed.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Briery Creek, iv. 92. A call to devotion.

1836.  Dickens, Sk. Boz (C. D. ed.), 71. The bell rings and the orchestra in acknowledgment of the call play three distinct chords.

1875.  Emerson, Lett. & Soc. Aims, Eloquence, Wks. (Bohn), III. 193. Men who lose their talents, their wit … at any sudden call.

  b.  A summons to answer to a charge; accusation, impeachment. Obs.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 19138 (Fairf.). Þai gedder bad bring forþ þe apostles alle for til ansquare to þaire calle.

  c.  A summons by applause for a speaker, actor, etc., to appear before an audience. Cf. CALL v. 22 b.

1887.  Punch, 12 March, 125/1. The enthusiastic … call that greeted him on the conclusion of his excellent work.

  d.  A summons or signal sounded upon a bugle, trumpet, etc.; also fig.

1581.  Styward, Mart. Discipl., I. 18. In sounding y^e march, a cal, y^e charge … y^e retrait.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VII. 295. Armies at the call Of Trumpet … Troop to thir Standard.

1713.  Lond. Gaz., No. 5135/3. The Drums beating a Call.

1875.  B. Taylor, Faust, II. IV. iii. 269. The first clear call of bells is swept across the land.

  e.  concr. A whistle, or other instrument, on which such a call is sounded.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), The call can be sounded to various strains, each … appropriated to some particular exercise.

1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., iv. She whistled on a small silver call which hung around her neck.

  f.  Call to the bar: admission to the status of barrister; see BAR sb.¹ 24, BARRISTER. Also † Call of serjeants (obs.).

1622.  Bacon, Hen. VII., 142 (J.). Vpon the sixteenth … was holden the Serieants-Feast, at Elie-Place; there beeing nine Serieants of that Call.

1700.  Congreve, Way of World, III. xv. 46. You think you’re in the Country, where great lubberly Brothers slabber and kiss one another when they meet, like a Call of Serjeants.

1868.  M. Pattison, Academ. Org., v. 184. There shall be examinations and degrees required for the call to the Bar.

1878.  R. H. Hutton, Scott, ii. 27. The day of his call to the bar.

  g.  spec. An invitation to undertake the office and duties of pastor of a church.

1666.  Life J. Livingstone, in Sel. Biogr. (1845), I. 136. I got ane joynt call of the parish and presbytery and the old minister and my Lord Tarphichen patron of the church … to be minister there.

a. 1704.  T. Brown, 2 Oxf. Scholars (1730), I. 2. I shall receive a call to be a Pastor or Holder-forth in some Congregation or other.

1755.  Wesley, Wks. (1872), XIII. 208. Both an inward and an outward call are requisite.

1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxxix. [The] presbyterians who had united in a harmonious call to Reuben Butler to be their spiritual guide.

1859.  J. Cunningham, Ch. Hist. Scotl., II. x. 422. From the year 1649 it was customary for the congregation to show their approbation of the person selected by the session, by giving him a formal call to be their minister.

  h.  A notice requiring theatrical performers to attend at a rehearsal.

1876.  Jennie of ‘The Princess,’ 219. You are cast for Player Queen. Call is for eleven this morning.

1885.  G. R. Sims, Mustard & Cr., in Referee, 16 Feb. A ‘call’ is frequently made out for ‘supers and ladies and gentlemen’ when the principals are not required.

  i.  Whist. A ‘call for honours’ (see CALL v. 1 e); also, a sign given to a partner by a special kind of play that he is to lead trumps (cf. CALL v. 22 d).

1887.  Temple-bar Mag., April, 551. My partner … will lead trumps on the first opportunity in obedience to my ‘call.’

  k.  Amer. Land Law. ‘An object, course, distance, or other matter of description in a survey or grant, requiring or calling for a corresponding object, etc., on the land’ (Webster, 1864).

  7.  Demand, requisition, claim.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8705. Þ^e barne atte dede is nauþer of thayme wille haue þer-til cal ne clayme.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 206, ¶ 1. There is a perpetual call upon mankind to value and esteem those who set a moderate price on their own merit.

1751.  Johnson, Rambl., No. 141, ¶ 8. The call for novelty is never satisfied.

1832.  A. Fonblanque, Engl. under 7 Administ., II. 268. The Duke of Newcastle’s call upon the anti-reformers to take up arms against the people.

1832.  Athenæum, No. 219. 19. The call of these for cheap reprints.

1870.  Bryant, Iliad, I. IX. 269. The calls of thirst And hunger having ceased.

  8.  A requirement of duty; a duty, need, occasion, right.

a. 1674.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1704), III. XIV. 377. He assured them … ‘that they had a very lawful Call to take upon them the supreme Authority of the Nation.’

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1858), 243. What call, what occasion, much less what necessity I was in, to go.

1779.  J. Moore, View Soc. Fr. (1789), I. xvi. 124. There was no Call for his interfering in the business.

1858.  Thackeray, Virginians, xxii. I don’t know what call she had to blush so when she made her curtsey.

  † b.  Occasion or need to go; an errand. Obs.

1791.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 324. Having a call to St. Ives in Cornwall. § 325. Having a second call into Cornwall.

  9.  A divine, spiritual, or sacred appointment, or prompting, to a special service or office. See CALL v. 6.

1650.  Ministers New Eng., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 300, III. 363. We came by a call of God to serve him here.

1755.  Mem. Capt. P. Drake, I. xi. 79. Proposals … to quit the World, and embrace that Course of Life, to which I told him I had no Call.

1790.  Mrs. Fletcher, in H. Moore, Life (1817), II. VI. 121. I feel a call from the Lord to give my last testimony to his faithfulness.

1862.  Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. xix. 368. It was a ‘call’ … or inward movement of the Divine Spirit through the conscience.

a. 1876.  J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. IV. i. 344. From the time of his call he devoted his life and abilities to the service of Christ.

  † 10.  Calling, occupation, vocation. Obs.

1548.  Geste, Pr. Masse, 72. We must al be busely occupied … eche man in his call accordingly.

1622.  Fletcher, Begg. Bush, II. i. Which lives Uprightest in his call.

1780.  Mrs. Fletcher, in H. Moore, Life (1817), I. III. 161. Spending your time thus, for the bodies of the people. If that is your call, it is a mean call!

  11.  Comm. a. A demand for the payment of money; esp. a notice to a subscriber to pay up a portion of capital subscribed. Also attrib.

1709.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4554/4. That … Two per Cent. on the Adventurers Stock be received in part of the said two Calls.

1776.  Adam Smith, W. N., I. II. ii. 319. A call of fifteen per cent.

1847.  C. G. Addison, Contracts, I. i. § 2. The directors must provide funds by making calls on the shareholders.

  b.  On the Stock Exchange.

a. 1860.  C. Fenn, Eng. & For. Funds (1883), 127. A ‘Call’ is an option of claiming stock at a certain time, the price and date being fixed at the time the option-money is given.

  12.  dial. Scolding, abuse. Cf. CALL v. 12.

  13.  Sc. (now in form ca’, caw.) Driving. In various applications: as, Hard and forced respiration; a place where cattle are driven, a cow-gang; a pass or defile between hills.

1765.  Ogilvy & Nairns Trial, 83 (Jam.). There was a severe heaving at his breast, and a strong caw, and he cried to keep open the windows to give him breath.

1768.  Ross, Helenore, 22 (Jam.). In the ca, nor cow nor ewe did spare.

1795.  Statist. Acc. Scotl., XVI. 168 (Jam.). By … the heights of Lead-na-bea-kach, until you arrive at the Ca (i. e. the slap or pass) of that hill.

1876.  Robinson, Mid-Yorksh. Gloss. (E. D. S.), s.v. Caw.

  III.  Phrases and Combinations.

  14.  Phrases. a. with preps., as At call: at command, ready to answer a call or summons; immediately available. Within call: within hearing or reach of a summons; hence, within call of (a place): near to (it); within call of (a person): fig. subject to (his) authority.

1594.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., Pref. 32 (J.). Alwayes at the call, and to stand to the sentence of a number of meane persons.

1632.  Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, III. i. A true friend at a call.

1668.  Child, Disc. Trade (1698), 227. It is our interest … not only to have many seamen, but to have them … within call in time of Danger.

1697.  Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. xx. 542. Those that subscribed to be at all calls.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 182, ¶ 6. All the great Beauties we have left in Town, or within Call of it, will be present.

1830.  Tennyson, Dream Fair W., 85. I saw a lady within call.

1885.  Manch. Exam., 20 July, 5/5. An unconscious desire to possess gold at call.

  b.  To have the call: to be in chief or greatest demand; to be the favorite: in Long Whist, to be entitled to ‘call honours.’

1840.  Fraser’s Mag., XXII. 674. Youth has the call.

1863.  Pardon, Hoyle’s Games, 18. The partners having eight points are said to have the call.

1867.  F. Francis, Angling, i. (1880), 31. Baited wheat has the call.

Newspaper.  Heifers had the call of the market at £17 to £20 each.

  15.  Comb., as call-bell, a bell for summoning attendance; a small stationary hand-bell for that purpose; spec. an electric bell giving the alarm at a fire-station, etc.; † call-belt, a belt for supporting a bugle or similar instrument; call-bird, a decoy bird for attracting others by its note; call-book, a muster-roll; call-boy, a youth employed a. (in a theater) to attend upon the prompter, and call the actors when required on the stage, b. (on a steamer) to transmit the captain’s orders to the engineer, c. (in a hotel) to answer the bells; call-change, a method of bell-ringing in which the ringers follow oral or written instructions; call-day, in the Inns of Court, the day appointed in each term for the ceremony of calling students to the bar; see also quot. 1720; call-duck, a decoy duck; call-loan, a loan to be repaid at call; call-money, money at call; call-night, the night on which students of law are called to the bar; call-note, the note used by a bird or other animal in calling to its mate; call-off, a cause of diversion or distraction; call-out, the act of calling out (forces, etc.) (see CALL v. 32 b); call-over = CALL sb. 1 b; call-rocket, a signal rocket.

1872.  Ellacombe, Bells of Ch., iv. 53. A *call-bell to the Divine services.

1879.  G. Prescott, Sp. Telephone, 375. The introduction of call bells or alarms followed … with the early introduction of the electric telegraph.

1883.  Cassell’s Fam. Mag., Dec., 59/2. The alarms enable the [fire-]brigade to leave the station within a minute after the call-bell rings.

1686.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2182/4. He had … an embroidered Buff *Call Belt, and an Agat-handled Sword.

1773.  Barrington, in Phil. Trans., LXIV. 263. The fascinating power of their *call-birds.

1663.  Pepys, Diary, 15 Jan. To examine the proof of our new way of the *call-bookes.

1803.  Naval Chron., XV. 57. Are copies of the muster or call book sent to the Navy Board?

1794.  Malone, Shaks., I. 88, note. His first office in the theatre was that of *Call-boy.

1863.  Sala, Qualk the Circumnavigator, 65. A Woolwich steamboat … passengers and crew—down to the very call-boy.

1872.  Ellacombe, Bells of Ch., iii. 35. The ringing ‘rounds’ and *‘call-changes’ was a good deal cultivated, a very long time before the birth of half-pull change-ringing.

1872.  J. T. Fowler Bells, Sacristy, II. 137. When some variation … is rung again and again, then another variation, and so on, it is ringing ‘call-changes,’ or ‘set-changes.’

1879.  Grove, Dict. Mus., I. 297/2. Ringers are said to be ringing call changes when the conductor calls to each man to tell him after which bell he is to ring.

1720.  Stow’s Surv. (ed. Strype, 1754), II. V. xxvii. 469/2. The Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen do meet at Guildhall, and sit in the orphan’s Court once in every year to hear the names of all securities called over; wherefore that day is called *Call-day.

1886.  Whitaker’s Almanack, 9. Inns of Court Law (Dining) Terms—Hilary begins 11 January, ends 1 February; Call Day, 26 January.

1656.  Earl Monm., Advt. fr. Parnass., 186. The true de quois, or *call-ducks.

1882.  Pall Mall Gaz., 7 June, 5/2. Recourse had more and more to *‘call’ loans.

1885.  Daily News, 12 Feb., 7/2. Most of the banks affecting to consider *call money as the same thing [with cash on hand].

1883.  St. James’s Gaz., 17 Nov. In the sister Inns of Lincoln and Gray, *‘Call Night,’ like Grand Night, has its own peculiar and appropriate ceremonial.

1833.  Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, I. No. 1. 22. The mellow *call-note of the grey linnet … was repeatedly heard.

1883.  Century Mag., Aug., 484/1. The European partridge and Bob White differ in their call-notes.

1883.  J. Parker, Apost. Life, II. 186. No … *call-off from prolonged and arduous enquiry into profound and useful subjects.

1887.  Times (weekly ed.), 7 Oct., 17/1. The *call-out of the Russian reserves.

1887.  Charity Organ. Rev., June, 245. A Saturday *call-over at school.