Lewis & Short

calco, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [1. calx], to tread something or upon something, to tread under foot.

  1. I. In gen.
    1. A. Lit. (very freq.; mostly poet. or in post-Aug. prose; not in Cic.)’ astructos morientum acervos, Ov. M. 5, 88; 12, 391: calcata vipera, trodden upon, id. ib. 10, 23; 12, 391; 13, 804: alius manum aeger, ut pede ac vestigio Caesaris calcaretur, orabat, Tac. H. 4, 81: cineres ossaque legionum, id. ib. 5, 17: calcata lacinia togae, Suet. Calig. 35: uvam, to tread grapes, Cato, R. R. 112 fin.; Varr. R. R. 1, 54, 2; Ov. M. 2, 29; id. F. 4, 897; Col. 6, 15, 1.
      To stamp, beat: in mortario, Apic. 2, 3: solum ferratis vectibus, Plin. 36, 23, 52, § 173.
    2. B. Trop.
      1. 1. To tread down, to oppress, trample upon (the figure is taken from a victorious warrior who tramples upon his prostrate opponents): amorem, Ov. Am. 3, 11, 5; cf. hostem, Juv. 10, 86: gentem, Just. 12, 16, 11: libertas nostra in foro obteritur et calcatur, Liv. 34, 2, 2: calcatum jus, Claud. in Eutr. 2, 125.
      2. 2. To scorn, contemn, spurn, despise, abuse: insultetque rogis, calcet et ossa mea, Prop. 2, 8, 20: aliquid quasi fastidiendo calcare, Quint. 5, 13, 22: calcatum foedus, Stat. Th. 3, 208.
  2. II. Esp.
    1. A. Of objects in space, to tread, pass over: calcanda semel via leti, * Hor. C. 1, 28, 16; Petr. 118, 5: scopulos, litora, Ov. H. 2, 121: durum aequor, the frozen sea, id. Tr. 3, 10, 39: campum, Claud. VI. Cons Hon. 515: calcatos lucos Jovi, frequented by, Sil. 3, 675.
    2. B. Of the cock, to tread, Col. 8, 5, 24.
    3. C. In gen., to press close together, to press in: oleas in orculam calcato, Cato, R. R. 117 fin.: tomentum in culcita, Varr. L. L. 5, § 167 Müll.; Cato, R. R. 52, 1; 28, 2; Pall. Jan. 20; Plin. 36, 23, 52, § 173; Verg. G. 2, 244.