Caliban is a noun that refers to a man having a savage, beastly nature.
Derived from a character of the same name in the Shakespeare play ‘The Tempest,’ known for his rebellious and volatile nature, Caliban is often used to describe individuals of such a temperament. Example:
That Caliban behind the counter at the hot dog stand refused to give me extra mustard unless I paid an additional dollar. If I wanted that kind of hostility during a meal, I’d eat dinner at home.
