1. In ancient Greece, a woman's close-fitting cap or head covering, often worn as part of formal or ceremonial dress.
Usage: historical; also spelled 'calyptra'
2. In botany, a hood-like or cap-like structure covering the spore-bearing capsule of a moss.
Usage: botanical term

Examples

• Ancient Greek women wore a kalyptra to cover their hair during religious ceremonies.
• The kalyptra was a symbol of modesty and social status in classical Athens.
• Under the microscope, the moss's kalyptra protected the developing spores.
• Archaeologists found depictions of the kalyptra on ancient Greek pottery.
• The kalyptra in mosses falls away as the capsule matures and opens.