Calypso

[ kuh-lip-soh ]

noun

, plural Ca·lyp·sos.

1. Also Kalypso. Classical Mythology. a sea nymph who detained Odysseus on the island of Ogygia for seven years.
2. (lowercase) Also called fair·y-slip·per [fair, -ee-slip-er]. a terrestrial orchid, Calypso bulbosa, of the Northern Hemisphere, having a single variegated purple, yellow, and white flower.
3. (lowercase) a musical style of West Indian origin, influenced by jazz, usually having topical, often improvised, lyrics.

verb (used without object)

1. (lowercase) to sing or dance to calypso.

Calypso

¹

/ kəˈlɪpsəʊ /

noun

1. Greek myth (in Homer's Odyssey ) a sea nymph who detained Odysseus on the island of Ogygia for seven years

calypso

²

/ kəˈlɪpsəʊ /

noun

1. a rare N temperate orchid, Calypso (or Cytherea ) bulbosa, whose flower is pink or white with purple and yellow markings

calypso

³

/ kəˈlɪpsəʊ /

noun

1. a popular type of satirical, usually topical, West Indian ballad, esp from Trinidad, usually extemporized to a percussive syncopated accompaniment
2. a dance done to the rhythm of this song

Other Words From

• ca·lyp·so·ni·an [k, uh, -lip-, soh, -nee-, uh, n, kal-ip-], noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Calypso¹

The name of the musical style is of obscure origin and perhaps only copies the spelling of Calypso the sea nymph

Word History and Origins

Origin of Calypso¹

C19: named after Calypso

Origin of Calypso²

C20: probably from Calypso

Example Sentences

When Shams’ father told her that the centre had been demolished, she was terrified for Calypso.

From BBC

The sources close to the deal said that is in line with what Thoma Bravo paid combined for regulatory software firm AxiomSL and financial software maker Calypso, which it merged into Adenza.

From Reuters

She died on board the ship Calypso when close to the islands, and they brought her body ashore.

From BBC

Another potential prospect is the Calypso field, off the coast of the island of Tobago, which could be the nation’s first deepwater gas field.

From New York Times

Belafonte first met King in spring 1956, the year he released the “Calypso” album that kept him at the top of the Billboard charts for a whopping 31 weeks.

From Washington Post