calais

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A town in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, in the north of France
{i} city of north France; family name
an industrial city and port on the English Channel in northwest France, used especially by ferries to and from Dover in England. Seaport (pop., 1999: 77,333) on the Strait of Dover, northern France. Originally a fishing village built on an island, it was improved by the count of Flanders in 997 and fortified by the count of Boulogne in 1224. Calais was taken in 1347 by Edward III of England, and after 1450 it was the only remaining English possession in France. The 2nd duke de Guise took Calais from the English in 1558. In World War II it was a main objective in the German drive to the sea in 1940. It is an important passenger port and is near the French terminus of the Channel Tunnel. The city is famous for its lace and embroideries
a town in northern France on the Strait of Dover that serves as a ferry port to England; in 1347 it was captured by the English king Edward III after a long siege and remained in English hands until it was recaptured by the French king Henry II in 1558

Related Terms

Nord-Pas-de-Calais
A région of France
Pas-de-Calais
A département of northern France, bordering the North Sea and Belgium
nord-pas-de-calais
a region in northeastern France
calais
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